![]() ![]() In these moments, the knights' false appearance of chivalry is stripped away to reveal their more selfish motivations. Kay tries to take credit for Wart's removal of the sword from the anvil. Sir Ector is irritated by the demands of the king's hunting party. ![]() While the courtly rules of this world are clearly delineated, White repeatedly shows knights behaving in a way that runs directly counter to this code. White's portrayal of chivalry is similarly critical. By highlighting this gap, White is able to underline the way in which being highborn does not determine (or particularly help) having strong character, and how the things that are given to them are not earned or tied to their values. In contrast, Wart demonstrates bravery and kindness. ![]() While knights and lords were traditionally portrayed as noble and brave, White skewers this perception by writing upper-class characters like Kay and Sir Ector as bumbling, incompetent, and petty. Absurdity of the AristocracyĪ major theme in the novel is the absurdity of the rank and privilege given to the landed aristocracy. Scenes like this one show how these knights and lords take part in posturing and are not actually particularly tough. The problems with this performative attitude are accentuated in the jousting scene between Pellinore and Grummore, where their initially respectful engagement devolves into taunts and childish fighting. The narrative deals with the way that characters use displays of force as a means of establishing and defending their honor. ![]()
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