Why Is King Arthur Important

Do not under any circumstances put your elbows on the table, sit up straight, do not speak unless you are spoken too. These are general ideas of common courtesy and well mannered behavior that society expects you to be raised with. These societal norms did not make themselves, they were developed through the passing of time. Past eras took these norms a lot more seriously than they are taken today. During king Arthur’s time these well known manners were seen as a code. Chivalry included many things such as Christian/military ideas, faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery, and honor. These are things they would raise their knights to understand and if you did not show and have these traits you were everything less than a man. Through stories

such as the Gawin the Great Knight and from Morte D’ Arthur explains of loyalty, courtesy, and honor were displayed.

Initially, from Morte D’ Arthur explains the loyalty the people of Arthur were to him even in his time of death. It was always promised that Bedivere would do is exactly as he was told once the king had passed. His job was to do what no one else was assigned, he was to return the magic sword Excalibur to the Lake from which it originated. Where the lady of the lake would reach out grabbing it with her mighty hands and take in beneath the water till another king just as great as Arthur would later claim its glory. Bedivere was honored to take upon this duty. He not only tried once, but three times to get rid of Excalibur as he was told. “Then Sir Bedivere departed and went to the sword and light took it up, and so he went to the water’s side, and there he bound the girdle about the hilts, and threw the sword as far into the water as he might” (pg. 192) Bedivere’s loyalty to King Arthur was shown through his ability to not give up on what Arthur had so much desired him to do. Even if it took him three tires to complete the task.

Equally important, within Gawin the Great Knight the courtesy king Arthur is shown through his Kingman ship.

Arthur is known as one of the greatest kings to ever lived. He is known as this for many reasons, but mainly due to his courtesy that he showed his people. Unlike all other kings he made himself seem as just like one of the other knights. Many great kings have fantastic dining halls with long rectangular tables and upon each end sat the noble people. “Now are the revel and renown of the Round Table” (pg. 173) King Arthur did not dine in this way in fact he had a round table and when you at that this table everyone there was equal to have conversation and be treated equal. This was courtesy to the people knowing that everyone was seen equal by the king. This is also the first sight of a democracy within a kingsman ship. This idea would soon lead to the way many countries were ran, showing that everyone could have an equal

voice.

In addition, from Morte D’ Arthur shows Arthur is shown to be a honorable king as well.

After Arthur works his way to the top of the kingdom pulling Excalibur from the rock making him king he marries the most beautiful Guinevere and makes her queen. Throughout his life he makes a lifetime friend by the name of Sir Lancelot. “For within a month shall come Sir Lancelot with all his noble knights and rescue you worshipfully and slay Sir Mordred and all that ever will hold with him” (pg. 186) Lancelot is trusted for everything with King Arthur, until one day. Lancelot came along and took Guinevere, heart and all. Although Arthur’s heart was broken he could not act upon the issue. He was a good friend he loved both of them to much to kill either of them. Honorably he held up his friendship regardless of the struggle he had dealing with the loss of his lady to his best

friend.

Clearly, Arthur struggled with the lost of his lady, but remained honorable. He continued through his kingman ship to show that he was courteous to his people and to his knights. Using the round table he proved that everyone could be equal which gave way to the very first democracy. Above all other things Bedivere proves his loyalty to Arthur by deposing of Excalibur even if it took three tries.