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KING ARTHUR.
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History of legends of the "perfect" King. Arthur's traits, his epic adventures.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
History of legends of the "perfect" King. Arthur's traits, his epic adventures.
Paper Introduction:
This essay will examine the legend of King Arthur, exploring the reasons for our fascination with him, even today. Is he the “perfect” king, the king for all time? The history of how the legends and myths surrounding this most famous King of the Britons evolved will be presented first. Then, a most famous and historical source of the legends, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, will serve as the primary text, (with passing references to others), to analyze the heroic traits attributed to this “once and future king,” traits which have been enshrined in the epic traditions of western culture. The thesis of this essay is that Arthur is the “perfect” king of the western world because he is its most enduring mythic figure. And as a mythic figure, he has actually been created by the west, and has evolv
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He receives mortal wounds in the Battle of Cornmouth, and allmourn his passing. The brave soldier must also be kind, loving, and just but gentle. Thus to make a delectable tune to your ear, history goes masking as a fable. The word "chivalry" derives from the French word for horse, "cheval,"and so even its etymology it is linked to the mounted warriors of Camelot("Morte d'Arthur"). If Maloryhad searched for years to find a means of bolstering English morale, therewould be no hero better for English pride than King Arthur. He is, instead, Christ-like in his concern forthe kingdom and for the well being of those around him. In the French romances,the knights of Arthur's Round Table become exemplars of courtly love. Then, a most famous and historical source of the legends, SirThomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, will serve as the primary text, (withpassing references to others), to analyze the heroic traits attributed tothis "once and future king," traits which have been enshrined in the epictraditions of western culture. Arthur is likewise a brave man. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 5th edition. In the medieval period, Arthur'sescapades as a great war hero are doubled in their significance as theelements of these battles become Christianized. The"love" that it represents is not amorous at all, but is the "love" ofhumanity, or of our fellow men. Malory's literary rendition goes so far beyond earlierhistorical chronicles, then, in treating "humanity, love, courtesy, andvery gentleness," on the one hand, and adding an element of "wonderful" ormystical happenings, on the other. Finally, however, King Arthur shows usthat bravery alone will not suffice. This great Welsh or Brythonic war chieftaingave to the legend the classic warrior's bravery in battle, hisselflessness in the field of battle, and his patriotic pride in hiscountry. We must learn to balance our personalduty and our battles with a spiritual wisdom that partakes of both thewisdom of gentleness and the wisdom of justice. The privilege of chivalrous encounters goes to the fewwho, like Arthur, have been called to their duties and have met thembravely. As cultural traits, they can be "read" asrequirements of the culture. C. >http://www. First, let us briefly review the history of the legends. When Malory tells us, in the first chapter of the lastBook, that Sir Mordred, Arthur's son by his sister, plans to usurp thethrone and wed Queen Guenevere, it traces the legend but adds contemporarypolitical issues to the mix ("Morte d'Arthur"). New York: Crown Publishers, 1979.Field, P. The tales of chivalry that make upthe Arthurian cycle differ from the epic only in their reflection of thespread of Christianity in the Middle Ages, but this is a criticaldifference. frognet.net/~wentwrth/arthur/author.html 1997. They have been noised about this mighty realm for so great a space that the truth has turned to fable an idle song. He isa great warrior. But what of the wisdom ittakes to rule? But he must also face challenges close to home,challenges of a very personal nature which test his emotional, mental, andspiritual strengths. The Hundred Years War, ending in 1453, had been adisaster for all of England. Although the Celtic legendscarry some of traces of the legends of Arthur's mystical birth and bravery,they are now charged with the status of an entire culture's mythic reality. Romances differ from chronicles in thatthey add more adventure and fantasy, while chronicles simply attempt tolist the facts. Her vast holdings had been lost. As theruler of Camelot, and founder of the brilliant and shining "Knights of theRound Table," Arthur's bravery is legendary, and an essential quality ofthe western mythic hero. Is he the "perfect"king, the king for all time? The circumstances of Arthur'sbirth and early childhood are in Geoffrey of Monmouth's account of Arthur,and it also presents many of the familiar characters of the later romance,such as Merlin, Kay, Uther Pendragon, and Bedevere. Essays on Malory. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia RegumBrittaniae, written c. The epic, saga, and romance becomesacred traditions in a culture, traditions by which its members live, wagewar, and erect and destroy their leaders. As a warrior, he seems to haveattracted a vast body of ancient Celtic mythology, quickly becoming theking who will rise again when the British have need of him. But why did Malory choose to tell Arthur's story? In the west, the"reluctant" hero, as a boy, is humble and kind. The romance is "a medieval narrative....treating of heroic,fantastic, or supernatural events, often in the form of allegory" (Abrams,284.) The tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table takes ona life of its own from this time forward. It is nowbelieved that Arthur was most likely a war chieftain in the late 5thcentury B.C.E. It is in the closing days of Arthur's reign, and in the manner of itsdemise that we can examine the last of the traits which make Arthur the"perfect" king. These are the idealistic days whenknights abandoned the whole world to quest for one precious sight of theHoly Grail. He says, it "treateth of the noble acts, feats of arms ofchivalry, prowess, hardiness, humanity, love, courtesy, and verygentleness, with many wonderful histories and adventures," (AuthorialApproach," 1). TheCeltic cauldron of plenty becomes the Holy Grail, the legendary containerof the blood of Christ on the cross ("Tale of King Arthur"). Thusdoes Malory take the historical tales and reflect the political issues ofhis own day (Field). Oxford: Clarendon, 1963.Berenson, Bernard. In the end, the legend of King Arthur is the epic tale of a hero whoaccepts his fate and leads his people to a cherished ideal-the perfectstate. Arthur'sbravery as a war chieftain is allegorical, now, and his success is thesuccess of "right" and "glory." The epic spirit of Arthur as a war heroincludes his ability to face his ultimate fate, and to die tragically, as ahero must. The fates watch over him, however,so he becomes student of a great teacher, Merlin, the great prophet, whoembodies his education with both selfless spirituality and inevitability.Arthur is carefully schooled and prepared for the important duties requiredof him because of his noble birth. The new element, here, is not so much the fact that Arthur is wise, butthat his wisdom is Christianized and ultimately spiritual, and as such hemust be kind, just, and gentle. Should he? The inner meaning, symbols, religious beliefs and the codes of ethicsthat make up the Arthurian legends were constructed out of centuries ofcommunal life, then, and can be read as allegories which tell us what ourculture holds as "perfection" in a man. By the end ofthe 6th century, many children were named after this king. Instead, the"code of love," when applied to the knights of the Round Table and its"perfect" leader, becomes an extraordinarily difficult path to follow. He and hiscompanions have superhuman strength and abilities, and consort with giantsand other mythological creatures ("Arthur the Myth" 1). It is on the home front that Arthur's kindness andwisdom really reveal themselves, for it is at home that he suffers the mostironic twists of his fate: the treachery of his cousin (or son, in someversions), Mordred, and the betrayal of his Queen and his favorite Knight,Sir Lancelot. After the medieval Christianizing of themyth, the chivalric code prevails, and with it, new characteristics obtain. Manchester: Rylands University Press, 1983."Morte d'Arthur" Authorial Approach in Le Morte d'Arthur. King Arthur's humility as aboy, and his training by Merlin point the way. New York: Pantheon, 1948.Bullfinch's Mythology,Illustrated Edition. As his knights mustbe educated, so is it Arthur's task to determine what is just in eachcircumstance. >http://www: britannia.com/history/arthur/kaking.html<"Arthur the Myth." Arthurian Biographies. An epic is a poem of extended length, "made up of traditional storiesclustered about a central hero or group of heroes," (Abrams). It is at this moment in its evolution that Arthur's traits become sodistinctly reflective of western culture, for it is during the medievalperiod that the historical chronicles of the brave 5th century soldierbecome so much more than a warrior's tale. It is these traits that thewest admires, this essay has argued, and so it is to their most admiredking that these heroic traits have been attributed. He grew in legendto be a great Christian knight. >http://www: lib.rochester.edu/camelot/chome.stmBennett, J.A.W., ed. Aesthetics and History. Malory'saccount tells us that the realm "stood in great jeopardy long while, " whenArthur was a boy receiving his instruction from Merlin and preparinghimself for his future, but that, finally, young Arthur came to remove thesword from the stone, "for my brother, Sir Kay shall not be without a swordthis day." As he pulls the sword from the stone, Arthur is immediatelyrecognized as the heir apparent, and crowned King of the Britons. Can Arthur forgive Lancelot? The one overriding theme that is characteristic of thisliterature is the emerging sense of the importance of individual heroicdeeds and the importance of spiritual wisdom. ("Arthur, King of the Britons" 2), although the earliestrecords of him are enshrouded in mystery. As such, it serves as asource for the first quality that becomes enshrined in the tales of Arthur,his miraculous birth and early childhood instruction, an allegory for theproper attitude of preparedness in youth. It embodiesthe highest ideals of the culture from which it springs, being large inscope and eloquent in its expression. Secondly, we must fight thebattles of our days with strength and bravery. They should not be considered either an idiot's tales or given by inspiration. 1997. The glamorous days ofKing Arthur and the Round Table, the tragic betrayal of his bride,Guenevere, and the treachery of Mordred come to life as never before.Recurrent in this universe of chivalry and courtly love in bloom is Merlin,the wicked enchantress Morgan le Fay, fire-breathing dragons, tournamentsand dubbings at Pentecost, and mysterious ships that float over the deep.Magical, mystical elements abound. At some period of greatflowering in each culture, the ideal hero will evolve to become the imagefor the future. Finally, Arthur is the "perfect" king because of his wisdom andfairness as a ruler. As the evolving legends show, Arthur's classic, epicadventures require him to overcome great odds against terrible foes. It is not simply the amorous code of a lover. And whydid Caxton, the first English printer, immortalize the tale by selecting itfor printing, for all history to read? The 'perfect' young Arthur is, then,teachable and humble. The tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Tableare many and varied, but in them all, a sterling quality exhibited byArthur is his personal wisdom in facing adversity. ("Arthur, King of the Britons") Works CitedAbrams, M.H. Thus, it isas an epic hero of mythic proportions that Arthur's "living," mythiccharacteristics have evolved. In "A Millennial Quest forArthur," a contemporary writer captures something of the mystery of thecontinuing revival of the legend of King Arthur, the "perfect" king.Humble, brave, and gentle but just, he is the cultural embodiment of theheroic ideals of the west: I know not if you have heard tell the marvelous gestes and errant deeds related to often to King Arthur. These two accounts confirm for us the first significant trait thatmakes Arthur the "perfect" king. The inexhaustible treasure trove of the Arthurian cycle is vividlyalive even today-and not merely in the countless retellings that continueto be published year after year (Bennett). As we can witness, in the process ofbecoming more than a Welsh epic hero between the 11th and 13th centuries,Arthur's career as a military leader grows beyond itself and becomes alegend for all Britons (Dorerty). Thehumble youth who is motivated to help others has been recognized and risento the throne of the land, for which he was all along designated. The code that the wisdom of Arthurexhibits is, then, the code of "brotherly love." The "chivalry" of KingArthur's wisdom is not a gentle code, alone, but is ringed with justice.The "wisdom" lies in finding the balance between gentleness and doing 'whatis right'. 2 . Thenceis the first trait enshrined: the King shall be humble and teachable, andshall wish not for himself, but for others the glory of the Kingdom.Arthur is not ambitious. These elements re-introduce the mythiclegend of Arthur, whose birth signifies a hero-in-the-making, and whosemiraculous deeds on the battlefield are accompanied by mystical elementslike a healing in the Isle of Avalon. In Malory's opening section,"Merlin," much of the same material is covered, recounting, as well thetheme that Arthur will come again, which inserts a mystical aspect involvedin his instruction even at this young age. In its midst, King Arthur reigns as a wise and temperate king. And it is in Malory that we find the reasons thatArthur's legend continues to inform western culture. Old stylemilitary justice may have its place, but the code Arthur represents is abalanced one, a code that requires the "once and future king" to recognizethe precisely perfect balance between what is humane and what is just.King Arthur, epic hero, embodies the characteristics that the western worldadmires and requires of itself. In the medieval period, Arthur's virtuesare the core of what are called the French romances, and in the hands ofthe monks, these became the tales of the great Christian knight who beganto embody the highest ideals of medieval Christianity ("ArthurianLegends"). And as a mythic figure, he has actually been created by thewest, and has evolved with its urgent need for a heroic code. Caxton's July 1485 printing of Le Morte d'Arthur introduces the textthis way. J. They provide what BernardBerenson describes as "orgies of communal self-importance," and the basisfor a primal and exulting sense of cultural flowering (92). Arthur finds this balance between kindness and justice in his trip tothe Isle of Avalon, an allegory for his journey to the spiritual realm.Arthur's wisdom is a wisdom tempered with a vision of what is to come, andthat vision obtains from his openness to the spiritual realm. The history of how the legends and mythssurrounding this most famous King of the Britons evolved will be presentedfirst. But the third trait of Arthur, the "wisdom" function is quitecomplicated. Harcourt Brace, 1988."Arthurian Legends: A Web-based Interdisciplinary Approach." National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Just then, three maidens appear, and transport him tothe Isle of Avalon for a healing. July, 1995."Arthur, King of the Britons." King Arthur on Britannia. In a word, he is of high birth, butis taken away and raised anonymously. These are the days of the living myth, the myth charged withhidden messages of spiritual questing and forgiveness. Andso King Arthur reflects the qualities we admire in ourselves and ourleaders. What traits make Arthur the "perfect" king? Secondly, Arthur is the "perfect" king because of his bravery. The thesis of this essay is that Arthur isthe "perfect" king of the western world because he is its most enduringmythic figure. The minstrel has sun his ballad, the story teller has told his story so frequently, little by little he has decked and painted, till by reason of his embellishment the truth stands hid in the trappings of a tale. As such, he or she will serve as a source of pride, energyand inspiration to that culture. Such rhymes are neither lies nor gospel truths. But perfection does not last. He is humble and teachable, and thus wellprepared for his future role, and he is watched over by Fate. This essay will examine the legend of King Arthur, exploring thereasons for our fascination with him, even today. King Arthur's inexhaustiblewill to stand for his country and to fight for what is right teaches uswhat courage and strength can do. These events werecatalogued at a time when the crown of England had twice been usurped, andat a time that great battles were being fought under King Henry VI. First, we must recognize our duty, our path,and our fate and we must educate ourselves. This ideal will be shattered. In keeping with epictradition, the first interesting trait of King Arthur (one reflectingwestern cultural values) emerges from the nature of his birth, his infancy,and his early childhood instruction. This part ofthe tale culminates in the young Arthur being challenged to withdraw thefamous sword, the sword of his father, the king, from the stone. They are humble and they are brave. These traits likely derive from an historicalfigure, a warrior of some repute of Welsh origins who lived and foughtbattles in the 5th century. "Some peoplebelieve that King Arthur is so inextricably tied up in Celtic Mythologythat he must, in origin, have been, not a man at all, but a God....Arthurin his earliest form appears almost entirely mythical. Arthur's bravery does not go unrewarded,then, although ultimately, bravery alone cannot save the kingdom.Spiritual succor is needed to heal even the brave. In it, we hear afiercely nationalistic account that attempts to trace the history of theBriton people back to the royal family of Troy. He is unaware of his noble birth but has the hero'spotential for greatness. Thestory that began with Arthur will end with Arthur, even though in itscenter many tales unfold of knightly deeds, of chivalric practices, and ofgreat battles. 1136, chronicles the history of the famous "King ofthe Britons" and the character traits of the epic hero-especially hisbravery-- are already in place. These self-created ideals speak to theneeds of the people who told the tales. This wisdom is borne ofan ability to move to the "other-worldly" spiritual realm, and it is thespiritual aspect of his wisdom that rounds out our character study of thegreatest of the Western legends, Arthur, the "perfect" king of the Britons. Perhaps nowhere is the education of a candidate forleadership better outlined than in the legendary tales of King Arthur andthe Knights of the Round Table, for they tell us what it takes to be anexemplar of the reign, a knight. The Last Years of Sir Thomas Malory.
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