Arthurian Legend Analysis

The Happily Ever After in The Arthurian Legend

The Arthurian Legend, an amazing composition of multiple fantasies, love stories and battles. But what does it all lead to? Some die, but some live with complete happiness. In the legend there are too many instances of cruelty and betrayal, but we must look on the bright side, we must look at all of the great endings. In the legend there are so many instances that end in love, happiness, and a loyal relationship. Many such as Gwaine, Uther, and Arthur are great examples of the “ Happily Ever After “ of the Arthurian Legend.

The first positive portrayal is the story of Uther and Igraine. Igraine, a captivating queen, married to the Duke of Cornwall. Uther, a bitter King in need of a women to

King Arthur began as a young fellow, always looked upon as a nobody, a reject, a charity case, he was destined to be a squire, but one of those days, he made it. It was the day of Sir Kay’s duel, in which he forgot his weapon. Wart ( Arthur ) goes to get a weapon and gets the sword in the stone, which makes him the king. In the ending of the book, there is a part that summarizes the whole story wonderfully, deciding his fate as a king, “ ‘ Yes Wart,’ said Merlin. ‘ Or rather, as I should say (or is it have said) Yes, King Arthur’.” (White 209) This is confirmation of the fact that Arthur is now the king, and will live happily for the rest of his life. It is a final assertion of his

Gawain courageously volunteers to go through the challenge if the Green Knight, to strike his neck, and get the favor returned later on. After his courageous act of bravery, he sets off to find the Green Knight, halfway there, he finds an amazing house in which a lord lives. As the lord accepts him with open arms, he takes it for granted, while the lord is gone, he kisses his wife three times. He thanks the family and leave. He goes to the Green Knight, and as it turns out the lord was the Green Knight. He does not know that, so he goes and waits for the Green Knight to strike and he strikes. Gawain dodges it and runs, he says that that was his blow and that’s final. The Green Knight reveals himself as the lord and he learns a valuable lesson, and the lesson learned was known as, “ I must wear this badge… for nothing befalls a man who hides from his own fears.” ( Thompson 5 ) He learns his lesson and finds the true meaning of honor. From this he will now be more brave, more motivated, and he will never dishonor anybody