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 Ar

Morgan Le Fay is also depicted as a woman who tries to unravel Lancelot's inhibitions. This woman is not directly responsible for the destruction of his sanity but through her character the idea of women being underhanded and deceitful is present. The Queen, as did her fellow queen's, wanted Lancelot for their magic. "They began to quarrel among themselves, about which of them should have him for their magic,"(343). Presenting these women as fighting over whom gets to demoralize him shows the omnipresent notion that women are petty and selfish. "' I will put an enchantment on him so that he does not wake for six hours. When we have brought him safely into our castle he can choose which one of us he will have,'"(343). The fact that the women are scheming unfairly and behind his back shows a typical view of females which was common of the time period and a recurring theme in the novel. Women are also portrayed as being evil by using their sexuality for personal gain. "'We four queens have you in our power, and you have to choose which one of us you will have for your mistress,'"(344). This statement by Le Fay is an example of how women use seduction to get wh

Some common words found in the essay are:
Le Fay, King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Guenevere Elaine, Guenevere's Guenevere, Elaine Lancelot's, Sir Lancelot's, Le Fay's, Elaine Elaine, Future King, le fay, sir lancelot, played role attempting, role attempting, played role, women portrayed, morgan le, love lancelot, idea women, guenevere elaine, future king,
Approximate Word count = 785
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)