SGGK-vs.-LMDA

      King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are well known to many. Although King Arthur was depicted at different times in his life in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Arthur, he was still the same type of man at each point in his life. He made potentially un-kingly decisions, one of which, cost him his life.

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, King Arthur is young, and the kingdom is filled  with parties and merriment. The king is known for his polite and chivalrous behavior. “The handsomest king that ever kept court, All in that hall were beautiful, young and, of their kind, The happiest under heaven, a king of powerful mind; A company so proven Would now be hard to find” (Pg. 4 & 5 sb). During this time he was in a good mood. “He was in merry mood, like mischievous boy” (Pg. 6sb). Then the Green Knight arrived and he asked the knights to play a game in which he tells them to chop his head off. Nobody carried out his wishes so he called them yellow-bellied chickens. King Arthur grabbed the axe to do the job but before he does Gawain saved him. King Arthur made neutral decisions that meant they are nether bad or good. Sometimes, he potentially made un-kingly decisions and had to be rescued by his knights. “Gawain Bows to the king, gives sign: Please my good liege, it’s plain This little fight is mine” (Pg.14 sm). Thus saving King Arthur from another bad decision.

In Le Morte d'Arthur, King Arthur was older, king for a number of years, and had been to war a few times. He had become more serious and had grown up. Tragically, he

listened to his nephew, Sir Gawain, who wanted revenge on Sir Launcelot for killing his brothers. “On the advice of Sir Gawain, started laying waste all before him (Pg. 248 bb).

In his absence, Sir Modred usurped Arthur’s throne. King Arthur returned and planed to fight his son for his kingdom. Sir Gawain’s wounds from fighting Sir Laucelot opened up, and he died. He returned in a vision to King Arthur and told him not to battle his son until Sir Lancelot could come and help. Unfortunately, one of the knights was attacked by a snake and drew his sword after a peace signing treaty so a battled ensued. Only King Arthur, two of his lower knights, and Sir Modred survived. King Arthur, known for making bad decisions, went after Sir Modred. “My lords, I care nothing for my life now? And while Sir Modred is at large I must kill him: there may not be another chance” (Pg. 258 bb). Since all his top knights weren’t there, no one was there to prevent him from doing the un-kingly thing. This resulted in his death.

Due to the inability of Arthur’s knights to rescue him from his decision to go after Sir Modred, he was killed. The result was that there were no winners. Britain lost both of their kings; Sir Modred and King Arthur and at least 160,000 soldiers were killed.