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 Arthur," (362). Not being her one and only love made life almost unbearable for Lancelot at times. It is almost too much for Lancelot to withstand when Guenevere accuses him of being in love with a woman other than she. "'You are in love with her and deceiving me, I thought so all along,'" (385). These words from Guenevere are a stab to Lancelot's psychological endurance. Such a burdensome situation puts a major strain on Lancelot's virtues.
             Elaine puts Lancelot's ethics to an incredible test. This woman wrongfully plots and seduces Lancelot, stealing his holiness deceitfully. After fooling him into thinking she were Guenevere, Elaine demoralizes him in the night. After realizing what has happened the cost of her treachery is clear. "' You have stolen my miracles. You have stolen m...