Womens Role in The Ill Made Knight

Presence of Women in "The Ill Made Knight"

Throughout the story "The Ill made Knight", in T.H. Whites novel The Once and Future King, women are portrayed as the cause of the destruction of Sir Lancelot's morality. Guenevere's ascendancy of Lancelot's love, Elaine's attempts at luring Lancelot into her life, and Queen Morgan Le Fay's enticing ways all depict women as the sole source for the ethical debauchery of Sir Lancelot.

Guenevere, married to King Arthur, is the possessor of Lancelot's mortal love. Because Lancelot has an intense devotion for his ruler and friend Arthur, this situation causes him much turmoil. Lancelot tries hard in the beginning to disguise his feelings, however Guenevere reciprocates and the two court each other secretly and guiltily. Faith also creates a problem for Lancelot. "One reason for his dilemma was that he was a Christian," (367). Lancelot desired Guenevere more than anything but because he was a devout Christian he could never possess her. Guenevere, however much in love with Lancelot, still loved her husband dearly. "In some way such as this Guenevere did come to love her Frenchman without losing her affection for Ar

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This woman wrongfully plots and seduces Lancelot, stealing his holiness deceitfully. Such a burdensome situation puts a major strain on Lancelot's virtues. Not being her one and only love made life almost unbearable for Lancelot at times. Women are also portrayed as being evil by using their sexuality for personal gain. After fooling him into thinking she were Guenevere, Elaine demoralizes him in the night. During her stay at Camelot she deceives Lancelot in the same fashion a second time, "The usual conniving hand had led him by the finger on tip toe to the chosen bed," (394).

Morgan Le Fay is also depicted as a woman who tries to unravel Lancelot's inhibitions. This infuriates Lancelot, and breeds contempt towards Elaine.

Not all women in the novel played the role of attempting to corrupt Sir Lancelot. "They began to quarrel among themselves, about which of them should have him for their magic,"(343).

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The Once and Future King By T. The Queen, as did her fellow queen's, wanted Lancelot for their magic. It is the sole responsibility of these two women that cause the collapse of Lancelot's values. "'We four queens have you in our power, and you have to choose which one of us you will have for your mistress,'"(344). Morgan and her queens were not successful, but they played a role in attempting to ruin Lancelot's principles.

Approximate Word count = 785
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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