In the best of words, "An Ill-Made Knight"
             The "Ill-Made Knight," or the third book in White's The Once and Future King, introduces a legendary literary figure named Sir Lancelot. Unlike most authors of the tale of Lancelot, White clearly portrays his own personal opinion of this traditionally handsome, romantic, and brave knight's characteristics. White offers no leeway towards Lancelot and from the start of the book he is badgered because, "he was trying to find out who he was, and he was afraid of what he would find." (White 315) This scenario which is placed in the first paragraph is made to establish Lancelot as a weak spirited man with an inner conflict of inferiority to the readers from the start of the book. White also states that as a young boy, Lancelot is very ugly, and even though his loyalty towards Arthur is impressive, he seems to be portrayed as a quiet and repressed social outcast. The title itself, "The Ill-Made Knight," literally means a knight created with many flaws and poor attributes. However, one aspect of the tale of Lancelot that White applied little alteration to, was his incredible personal achievements in chivalry. It is clear that Lancelot is portrayed as an incredibly talented fighter by White, because of lack of other attributes such as personal looks and self security.
             Arthur's wife, Queen Guenever and Lancelot traditionally have a passionate relationship in this tale, although White does not portray this relationship as a passionate love story, but as a weakness for Lancelot. The love between Lancelot and Guenever was sparked one day when Lancelot saw how hurt Guenever was when he angrily criticized her work by maliciously saying, "That's no good."(White 334) If this situation never occurred and Lancelot did not see the pain in her eyes it is debatable that their romance would never have occurred. In the novel, White creates ...