Post #3

This week's reading of Morte Darthur stirred many good points of conversation. I particularly enjoyed Kate's reading of the stories, looking into the importance of the feminine roles. I had read a few parts of this book before this class, but never really read much into how much the women play a role in these stories without actually being involved in the plot throughout. It seems to me too odd to say there isn't a reason for their absence, yet their choices effect the story so much. For example: it troubles me that Arthur is never concerned about having children and even turns the other cheek for most of Guenivere and Lancelot's affair. In pondering why this could have been, I realize Kate might have the best reason. I believe she said that Arthur's reasoning for being interested in chivalric brotherhood, over blood ties has the greatest weight for why the stories never make mention of the King and Queen making plans to conceive a child. However, looking at how Queen Guenivere's stand point, I believe the Queen might also be exercising her right to choose how or if her line carries on. This is evident in the fact that she in unfaithful to her husband, the King. If she were to conceive with Lancelot, their child would probably have never held a noble position in life. However, he would have a father that would probably show him more affection than Arthur would. King Arthur blatantly chooses to show favor of his brotherhood of knights, rather than concentrating on carrying on his blood line. He's not worried about conceiving children. This might be too much of a psychoanalytical reading of Guenivere's character, but I believe it's possible that when Arthur doesn't immediately try to stop her affair with Lancelot she realizes he doesn't really love her. Lancelot, on the other hand, risks everything to love her. The huge gap that exists in this story from Arthur and Guenivere's non-existent children would be an interesting one to hear explained from the other side, the feminine side. If only...