Thursday, April 9, 2020
The Frusteration
Why the hell did Sir Bedivere not listen to King Arthur, two times. It's stuff like this that frustrates me about these stories; they stress the importance of something so much and so many times, like the wits of Arthur or the loyalty and chivalry of his knights, then those concepts are turned in their heads, but not in a fun 'plot-twisty' kind fo way. Like Lancelot's affair with Guinevere; that turned out to be fun for no one. But even smaller examples like this, Sir Bedivere not listening to Arthur's literally DYING wish, two times! Because he doubts hi wits?? :"The king is sick and knows not what he does" (Tennyson 96). Throwing the sword into the lake is utterly crucial, and it almost didn't happen to Sir. Bedivere's 'slip-up'. Annoying..
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Thank you! I felt the same way I was so annoyed by Sir Bedivere. I could not believe that Sir Bedivere would ignore his kings dying wish. And not only only once but twice! I mean you're right, Bedivere knew the importance but just didn't care.
ReplyDeleteIt sort of reminds me of the scenes in horror movies where any sane person would not open the door... and THEN THEY OPEN THE FREAKIN' DOOR! Sir Bedivere's actions have got to be for dramatic effect, there is just no better excuse than that.
ReplyDeleteSee my comment on James' post - I think we have to see Bedivere struggle with this and we have to be frustrated. But we also have to let ourselves recognize what it is to be tempted, to want to do the easy thing instead of the right thing, if we are going to understand this poem.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and yet there's also evidence to support Bedivere's actions next to the lake. One, the sword is an ancient, magical thing that you could probably begin a kingdom with. And two, his king is dying and won't live through the night. I am just as frustrated but when re-reading I realize just what's stacked up against bedivere's mind.
ReplyDeleteI think it was definitely a hard decision for him knowing that his king is dying and the sword that he is holding in his hand is an ancient and magical sword. Knowing that the king is going to die and not make it through the night is it better to keep the sword? I'm sure it was a very hard decision to make in the heat of the moment.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I completely agree. It really makes me wonder what the point of certain actions are in the course of the story. It really annoyed me knowing that events were happening in a manner that didn't really matter.
ReplyDeleteI feel like people are being too hard on Sir Bedivere. If you think about the situation realistically, this has to be one of the most difficult decisions of the man's life. He is being asked to throw away the most majestic sword in the world. Put yourself in his shoes. Wouldn't you hesitate to do it as well?
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