The interpretation of a few selections from Morte Darthur in The Norton Anthology 9th edition depitct the love of Guinevere and Lancelot and the had catastrophic consequences it had on everyone but especially King Arthur. It was the catalyst that caused the demise of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Lancelot and the queen's affair was well known throughout Camelot. The knights would even toast to their love but to actually speak of it to the king was unheard of. In The Conspiracy Against Lancelot and Guinevere, Sir Mordred begins to rile up the knights and attempts to put them against Lancelot by making then feel like traitors to the king for keeping Lancelot's secret. No one will conspire with him except a couple of knights. What everyone was unaware of was that Mordred had his own agenda underlying his sudden action of feeling guilt for the king. He knew that by finally voicing the affair directly to the king, the king would have no choice but to accuse Lancelot of treason and along with him any knight that knew of the affair. It pained the king to do so because Lancelot was loved greatly by Arthur. Before he can accuse Lancelot of such a crime King Arthur wants proof. Mordred already knows that when the king goes hunting Lancelot stays in so he can spend the night with the queen, so he devises a plan and tells the king to tell Guinevere that he will be out hunting and then send a messenger to tell her he will be gone all night. As soon as the messenger gives Guinevere the message, she sends for Lancelot. Before Lancelot leaves for the queens chambers the knights try to warn him of Mordred's plan but Lancelot's duty to the queen is much stronger than the duty he feels to the knights so he goes on and meets the queen. Mordred succeeds in traping them together in the room and catches them in the act. The king is left with no choice but to make Lancelot leave. War soon breaks out between them. The wedge has been made and the trap for King Arthur set. From this point on Arthur realizes the compromising position he is in and his vulnerability to attacks. But besides that, he grieves more for the loss of such a loyal companion and the loss of his good knights.
Lancelot and Guinevere's affair cost King Arthur his knights, Camelot, and in the end his life. Though they did feel remorse at the end of it all there was plenty of time before the situation escalated to such an extreme to avoid the consequences to their selfish actions.
Lancelot and Guinevere's affair cost King Arthur his knights, Camelot, and in the end his life. Though they did feel remorse at the end of it all there was plenty of time before the situation escalated to such an extreme to avoid the consequences to their selfish actions.