Honor In King Arthur

Without a doubt, the society one lives in has a compelling impact in shaping their character. Each society places importance on certain values, which then reflect on the people of that community. By looking at the individuals in a particular society, one can make inferences about the values they were raised up with. This certainly pertains to the society that is found in the fantastic story King Arthur, an old British legend. It is palpable that the society presented in King Arthur places significant emphasis on honour, made apparent when looking at the battles fought in the story, Sir Lancelot’s heroic and noble deeds, and the final siege of Lancelot’s castle.
One can distinctly see the emphasis King Arthur’s society invests on honour when looking at the battles fought in the myth, particularly those fought by King Arthur. During his altercation with Sir Pellinor, each …show more content…
When King Arthur demands answers for why Lancelot took Guinevere away from her when she was to be burned for treason, Lancelot defends himself: “I would have lost my honour if I had let the queen burn for my deeds.” Lancelot’s vehement sense of honour required him to take responsibility for all of his actions, especially those that have direct consequences on someone else (in this case, Guinevere). He eventually agrees to fight King Arthur’s men to “preserve his honour.” However, when his nephew Sir Bors is about to strike at King Arthur, Lancelot stops and warns him that he would “kill [him]” rather than to “see the noble king who made [him] knight either shamed or killed.” This moment was perhaps one of the most pivotal moments in the entire story. Lancelot did not want to dishonour the person who had given him a lifetime of honour and happiness. From this, it is conspicuous that the society in King Arthur regarded taking responsibility for one’s own actions as genuinely