How Is King Arthur Relevant Today

King Arthur is a legendary British hero who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD. Although many debate Arthur’s historical existence, his impact on the world is not fictional. The tales of King Arthur’s life represents the best of mankind. In his life, Arthur was a mere man at best, but through the centuries he has become a legend, a beacon of hope, to others. Arthur’s death was never documented and his burial site never found. Many speculate that King Arthur never existed and some even say he is still alive to this day, waiting for the need to arise for his return. Regardless of the truth behind this spectacle, the tales of King Arthur still live today because we have an inherent need for what he represents: chivalry and honorable behavior.
The lack of documentation leaves scholars guessing as to how this hero met his end. However, I believe that the historical truth behind Arthur is less important than the impact he made on society during the Middle Ages and continues to impact us today. One of the most famous stories is of the Round Table. “It became the place where his knights sat, to avoid quarrels over precedence. A magnificent reign followed,
However, the legend of King Arthur is not all about uplifting nobility and faultless honor. The legends of Arthur are laced with betrayal, heartbreak, and unrequited love. “Merlin warns Arthur that Guinevere is not wholesome enough to be his wife, and that Lancelot would love her (and she him). But Arthur’s heart is set, and Merlin agrees to go to Camelerd to act as go-between. Leodegrance is overjoyed and delivers his daughter, via Merlin, to London with the Round Table and a hundred good knights.” (Arthurian Legend) The affair of Queen Guinevere with Sir Lancelot would inevitably lead to the destruction of King Arthur and his round table of