Final Stretch

I have finished the 3rd book, and am getting ready to start the fourth book tonight. We are scheduled to meet at my house this Thursday the 13th, at 7:00 PM to discuss the book.

 I look forward to having everyone over, and I hope everyone enjoys the discussion. Many of us have confided to me that they find this book a really difficult read, for various reasons. I have a short list of titles I'm interested in, on the what's next page of the blog, but so far I have had no suggestions from anyone else.  I would prefer to hear suggestions before Thursday, so we have time to consider whatever titles others may care to suggest.

I continue find the book quite enjoyable, for its overall light tone and somewhat slapstick comedy.  I see lots of humor throughout the book that would surely appeal to T H White's audience, if he intended his book to be read by teenage boys.  The cultural references continue to escape me, unless I take time to look them up, but I think most of the humor should be understandable to our group.

I agree with what others have said about the uni-dimensional quality of the characters in the story, but I think that is intentional on White's part as opposed to a failure in technique.  As I continue to read the story, my conviction that he expected his audience to be well-read and familiar with Malory and other tellings of the Arthurian legend remains strong.  I think the characters are written to express the characteristic that most defines them:

Arthur is noble.  Even as Wart, with one or two notable exceptions, Arthur shows the attributes of nobility.

Guenever is in love with two men, and is the apex of a love triangle.  Her background is completely omitted other than casual references to her father, and one mention of arranged marriage.

Lancelot is conflicted between his love of an eternal God (and its associated expression as hero worship of Arthur), and his love of a fallible and mortal woman.  Lancelot enjoys the additional attention from White, of his struggle to reconcile his strength as a knight which he ascribes to purity, and his betrayal of Arthur in his relationship with Guenever.  He has nearly no struggle with his loss of virginity regarding Elaine, except to the extent he believed it was Guenever and therefore he had sinned against Arthur.  I find it interesting how often Lancelot is the "Deus ex Machina" that arrives at the end of a situation to employ his great combat ability to resolve an otherwise lost situation.

Mordred is expressed by White as conceited and self-absorbed, but the sense of evil and treachery that is ascribed to Mordred in other sources is absent here (at least so far).  White doesn't even include in his rendition, any episodes of Arthur with his half sister Morgause, he simply assumes everyone understands that Mordred is Arthur's illegitimate son from an incestuous relationship.

Galahad has no human qualities (in fact he is so mono-dimensional, White openly tells us Galahad has no human qualities, rather than letting us figure that out), he is portrayed as having only the divine quality of his purity.  Galahad doesn't even seem to be tempted to sin, in White's telling.

Again, I look forward to the discussion on Thursday.  We may have some finger foods but won't have dinner, so plan accordingly, and please bring whatever you prefer to drink.

Please check the list of suggested titles for our next read, send me any additions you'd like to see added, and think about what we might tackle next.

Until Thursday, stay safe and good reading!