Summary:
The Once and Future King written by T.H. White characterizes King Arthur's main flaws. Among them is his reliance on Merlyn. When Merlyn announces that he must leave Wart, Wart does not know what to do with himself. He goes into a state of depression. His reliance upon Merlyn eventually causes Wart's self insecurities. It is not until Merlyn leaves does Wart's confidence seem to shatter.
Arthur's Tragic Flaw
Metaphor: Arthur is like a baby who still needs to be spoon fed
I made an outline of Arthur's characteristics from when he was first introduced to the story until he died, and I noticed that, what I thought to be Arthur's tragic flaw, appeared when he was a child. There was more than one thing that I felt would bring Wart into his tragic state.
Wart's upbringing had a definite effect on Wart's tragic flaw. He wasn't related to either Kay or Sir Ector. This would make Wart feel insignificant and would have put him in an ominous disposition. Therefore, this would make him feel that he can't speak up or voice his opinion against Ector or Kay because he is not worthy, or so he thinks. This inability to speak up for himself will come into play later in his life. For example, when Wart pulls the sword from the stone, Kay claims that it was himself that did it. While Kay is getting all the glory for what Wart did, Wart doesn't even try to say otherwise. It's not until Kay tells the truth does Wart get the praise he deserves. This also affects Wart's decision making. If someone challenges his ideas he second guesses himself and goes with the other's decision. I think Wart's lack of self confidence also started when he was a child. He knew that in the future he will have to be attending to others' needs as a squire, so why not start now as a child. These ideas of attending to others' needs before his own relates to what White said about Wart being "a born follower." He follows the wishes of others before his own. In my Lit. Map I said that Wart was a "pleaser, who puts the needs of others before his own in order to avoid conflict." Wart's downfall was based mostly on how he needed everyone to be happy with him. This is impossible because most of the time someone will disagree with some else's thoughts. In order for Arthur to be a good leader he has to be fair, and in order to be fair, he must be just. A great example of Wart making an unjust decision revolves around Lancelot's affair with Guenever. Wart just wants them both to be happy, so he does not punish their sin, which is unjust. This affair then leads into a greater conflict with Agravaine and Mordred. The two brothers then use the affair as "ammunition" against Arthur. Mordred eventually gains much power over Arthur and marries Guenever and becomes king. If Arthur would have just wouldn't have tried to make Lancelot and Guenever happy, and punished their sin, Agravaine and Mordred may not have had anything to attack Arthur with.
Another particularly bad trait that Wart learns when he is a child is his dependency on others. When Wart and Kay get into a fight in chapter 9, Wart asks Merlyn to do magic for Kay because he is sad. When Merlyn says no Wart is also unhappy until Merlyn gives in and does some magic for Kay. Wart's happiness depended on weather his brother was happy. Also, Wart had an unreasonable dependence on Merlyn. When Wart is being transformed into a fish, he asked Merlyn to go with him. He was emotionally unable to go alone. Merlyn tells him that he will accompany him on only this adventure because "Education is experience, and the essence of experience is self-reliance." Pg. 46. When Merlyn announces that he must leave Wart, Wart does not know what to do with himself. He goes into a state of depression. I think this sick reliance upon Merlyn eventually causes Wart's self insecurities. It is not until Merlyn leaves does Wart's confidence seem to shatter.
This is the complete article, containing 635 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
