The Code of Chivalry in The Once and Future King Essay -- Once and Fut

The Code of Chivalry in The Once and Future mogul T.H. Whites novel The Once and Future major power presents a code of chivalry that outlines the expected knightly behavior of the time. This particular code stresses loyalty to ones liege, love and honour toward women, and absolute devotion to justice. At the height of Arthurs kingdom, this code was widely accepted by all. However, as Arthurs kingdom begins to decline, the code of chivalry begins to hold less wideness among the people. The fall of Arthurs kingdom is directly related to the absence of the code of chivalry in the behavior of the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Lancelot betrays Arthur when he has an adulteress affair with Guenever. Sir Lancelot also disrespects women when he leaves Elaine to be with Guenever in Camelot. King Arthur himself is disloyal to justice when he allows Guenever to be rescued by Lancelot. The love triangle of Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenever is a constant theme end-to-end every account of the Arthurian legend. Geoffrey Ashes The Arthurian Handbook states that We may say that these knights are expected to serve their King...(81). The revelation of the affair finally comes when Sir Agravaine shouts, Traitor Knight Sir Lancelot, immediately art thou taken(White 569). Lancelot was summoned to Queen Guenevers bedroom, and Sir Agravaine is finally exposing the affair and gaining revenge on Lancelot for unhorsing him many times in the past. The two people that Arthur trusts most are Guenever and Lancelot. Arthur is tumesce aware of the affair between the two, but chooses to pretend that nothing is going on. Due to this naivety, Arthur earns the disrespect (and even hatred) of Agravaine and Mordred, who eventual... ...misuse of justice make way for Mordred and his ideas to take antecedent in Camelot. All of these actions eventually lead to Arthur chasing Lancelot and waging war upon him, while Mordred takes over in Camelot. This symbolizes that th ere is no middle ground between good (Arthur) and fell (Mordred). As good dissipates, evil always grows stronger. However, the same goes for evil dissipating and good rising to power. Given the time period in which T.H. White wrote (post World fight II), White is speaking of the downfall of Hitler and the rise of a new order in Europe. Works Cited Ashe, Geoffrey. The Arthurian Handbook. New York, USA Garland Publishing, 1988 Morris, Rosemary. The Character of King Arthur in Medieval Literature. Cambridge Brewer Publishing Co., 1982 White, T.H.. The Once and Future King. New York Penguin Putnam, 1987