"'The mist and the reeds and the cry of water birds...and then the barge, like magic, gliding from the silent shore...I know there is nothing for me here, and yet, somehow, I always return..'" (Bradley)
This quote stood out to me because I related it right to Lancelot and how he also seemed to have to soul purpose of being in Camelot, yet he always found himself there in our readings.
What is it about certain places that keep us coming back, even if we don't seem to have a real purpose for being there? Should we allow ourselves to be called back, or should we try to stay focused on the future? If you've never moved far away from a place where you grew up or lived or even regularly vacationed, this kind of nostalgia may seem odd, but as someone who has lived in 10 different states in the US and has ties to lots of other places I've never lived on a permanent basis, I do feel this pretty strongly. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSuper interesting questions Dr. MB! Thank you for your feedback as well. I definitely can relate that to my own hometown: a place where if you stay after graduating (high school/college), then you are bound to either get into trouble, or have difficulty living a happy life. Almost like they are just stuck in a phase. I see this relation to both this story with Galahad and with Lancelot. It's like they have not found their place yet and settle for a more comfortable, familiar place, where unfortunately not a lot of good comes to them.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense. There's that place that, in our hearts, we wish we could be in, but it counters the place that we're obligated to be in. I think most of us can relate to the idea of being stuck in a lousy job and wishing to be anywhere else. Most likely back home. That seems to be Lancelot's experience here. Camelot is kind of a "job" for him, but the lake is his home. He's "Lancelot of the Lake" after all.
ReplyDeleteYes it does feel like Lancelot has more of an obligation to be at Camelot. But at the same time it feels like he does not want to be with his mother either. It's more like he likes the idea of home, but does not seem to fit in there.
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