Oof. This one's a doozy.
Here's the thing. The success of the fellowship Arthur creates among his knights in Idylls of the King depends upon their loyalty to an oath they swear to him. And after Arthur marries Guinevere, their marriage vow serves as a symbol of the vows that bind the whole community, as well as a guarantor, or foundation, for these vows. Which is precisely why Guinevere’s adulterous affair with Lancelot is a betrayal that echoes throughout the whole fellowship, causing other knights to lose their battle to remain faithful. It pretty much ruins everything.
Questions About Betrayal
- What betrayals do we see in the Idylls? How do they compare to one another?
- Why does Guinevere’s affair with Lancelot cause Arthur’s knights to betray him? How is her fidelity to Arthur related to theirs?
- Why does Arthur tell Bedivere that his lie is a betrayal of himself?
- At what point does a betrayal really begin to do damage? When it is committed? When it is talked about? Give some examples to support your answer.
Chew on This
Guinevere’s infidelity causes Arthur’s knights to betray him because they depend upon Guinevere’s faithfulness to maintain their own.
For Arthur, dishonesty runs counter to human nature. Which is why he ends up dead at the end.