How Does The Once And Future King Influence Me
The Once and Future King, By T.H. White, is the book that has influenced me more than just about anything in my life. I first read The Sword in the Stone when I was in grade 3. The rest of the book was too hard for me at the time, but 3 years later I returned and read the rest. Since then I have read the book cover to cover countless times. I love the book so much, in fact, I have a well-loved soft cover copy for reading, and a newer hardcover so sit on my shelf. The ants in the Sword in the Stone served as my introduction to political theory, communism and fascism. The scenes of epic battles captured my heart and imagination, which spark an obsession with Arthurian literature which is still have today. I’m also indirectly named after Guinevere,
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so that's cool. Two parts of the book in particular have influenced me; the first is one a specific passage from the Sword in the Stone, the second, a scene from the Book of Merlyn, is a description of Arthur accepting his death. “The best thing for being sad”, replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something.
That’s the only thing that never fails...” The quote goes on, but that essentially sums it up. I can say without a doubt that this quote changed the way I viewed the world, and the way I interacted with it. This is inpart is because of when I first really read this passage, grade 7. By the end of grade 7 I was entering the my first bout of depression. At the time I didn’t know there was a name and reason I felt how I did, all I knew was that a never ending grey day had taken over my life and I couldn’t change it. I felt sad, therefore I learned. Just like the quote had told me. I learned about JFK (mainly his assassination), the Son of Sam, Quantum Theory, Neuroplasticity, Ancient Greece, and anything I could get my hands on. It gave me something to focus on other than the never ending grey day. The quote gave me a reason to get up each day and go to school, because if nothing else I was there too learn. I plastered it on my wall in big letters, I even highlighted it in my copy of the book. Without that quote I doubt I would be (maybe) going into criminology. The desire to understand blossomed in me because of it. I didn’t want too be sad, and here my favourite wizard was telling my favourite king that learning was how too fix
it. The second part that struck me is the end of the book. Merlyn and Arthur are sitting around a hearth talking too all of the animals he became in his youth. They sit around and talk about his life, which leads him to accept his death. I don’t really understand this passage, but it still struck me. I don’t think I’ll understand it until I’m much older. But still, the writing intrigues me. It hasn’t necessarily changed much for me yet, but I have a feeling it will. Some day (hopefully) way off in the future I’m sure I will go back and read it from my floating hospital bed, with the robot nurse giving me a sponge bath. Then I can accept my death and peacefully slip away.
so that's cool. Two parts of the book in particular have influenced me; the first is one a specific passage from the Sword in the Stone, the second, a scene from the Book of Merlyn, is a description of Arthur accepting his death. “The best thing for being sad”, replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something.
That’s the only thing that never fails...” The quote goes on, but that essentially sums it up. I can say without a doubt that this quote changed the way I viewed the world, and the way I interacted with it. This is inpart is because of when I first really read this passage, grade 7. By the end of grade 7 I was entering the my first bout of depression. At the time I didn’t know there was a name and reason I felt how I did, all I knew was that a never ending grey day had taken over my life and I couldn’t change it. I felt sad, therefore I learned. Just like the quote had told me. I learned about JFK (mainly his assassination), the Son of Sam, Quantum Theory, Neuroplasticity, Ancient Greece, and anything I could get my hands on. It gave me something to focus on other than the never ending grey day. The quote gave me a reason to get up each day and go to school, because if nothing else I was there too learn. I plastered it on my wall in big letters, I even highlighted it in my copy of the book. Without that quote I doubt I would be (maybe) going into criminology. The desire to understand blossomed in me because of it. I didn’t want too be sad, and here my favourite wizard was telling my favourite king that learning was how too fix
it. The second part that struck me is the end of the book. Merlyn and Arthur are sitting around a hearth talking too all of the animals he became in his youth. They sit around and talk about his life, which leads him to accept his death. I don’t really understand this passage, but it still struck me. I don’t think I’ll understand it until I’m much older. But still, the writing intrigues me. It hasn’t necessarily changed much for me yet, but I have a feeling it will. Some day (hopefully) way off in the future I’m sure I will go back and read it from my floating hospital bed, with the robot nurse giving me a sponge bath. Then I can accept my death and peacefully slip away.