For me, Gawain has never really clicked with Lancelot—although I can see why the idea would be appealing. I think it’s because I actually like the L v. Gawain conflict/relationship (a la Malory) as it is and it’s never really needed any more drama in my mind. I like them as somewhat uneasy, touchy “friends”/rivals and then with the breakdown at the end.
Arthur, I think, suffers from the problem that all good guy characters are prone to—it’s hard to be that interested in someone who is essentially an icon for righteousness. I suppose that’s why the movie’s version of Arthur does interest me despite my complaining—I see him as a very flawed character, and therefore there’s something to play with there.
White’s Lancelot (I don’t remember how he spells it either) is certainly one of the most fun and interesting versions, but although I love the book[s], I can’t say White’s is my favorite version of L. Off the top of my head, I think my favorite portrayal of a classic-type Lancelot is from Guy Gavriel Kay.
Your thesis sounds like it will be a lot of fun. : ) One of the things that makes this stuff (and all legends/myths) so interesting to play with for me is that al these stories are essentially “fanfiction”—back to the original Welsh stories, I suppose (and Lancelot is really a cross-over character who became an accepted part of the canon). We’re just continuing a long, venerable tradition here. ; )
Free to “ramble” here anytime. I enjoy it myself, as you can see.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-11-20 07:15 pm (UTC)Arthur, I think, suffers from the problem that all good guy characters are prone to—it’s hard to be that interested in someone who is essentially an icon for righteousness. I suppose that’s why the movie’s version of Arthur does interest me despite my complaining—I see him as a very flawed character, and therefore there’s something to play with there.
White’s Lancelot (I don’t remember how he spells it either) is certainly one of the most fun and interesting versions, but although I love the book[s], I can’t say White’s is my favorite version of L. Off the top of my head, I think my favorite portrayal of a classic-type Lancelot is from Guy Gavriel Kay.
Your thesis sounds like it will be a lot of fun. : ) One of the things that makes this stuff (and all legends/myths) so interesting to play with for me is that al these stories are essentially “fanfiction”—back to the original Welsh stories, I suppose (and Lancelot is really a cross-over character who became an accepted part of the canon). We’re just continuing a long, venerable tradition here. ; )
Free to “ramble” here anytime. I enjoy it myself, as you can see.