Реферат: Synopsis For The Once And Future King

There is no question that White feels an academic education is far superior to an athletic

education. Time and again he makes the point that “education is experience and the

essence of education is self-reliance.” Wart’s experience with the animals/birds/fish teach

him that knowledge is power. I [agree with] the comment that schools have been forced

to lower their standards in order to accomodate athletics. White also commented that

schools promote the lazy and idle along with the industrious. He definitely feels

education is extremely important. Education is one of the themes of the book.

Being the pacifist that he was and writing during WWII, White makes the point

repeatedly that violence/agression is not the answer to life’s trials. Wart’s whole education

by Merlyn (White) is directed towards a sensitivity to life and a respect for it. White

illustrates this through the various governments Wart experiences

totalitarianism/Fascism (the ants), feudalism (Sir Ector), and total freedom/almost

anarchy (the geese). Again, White states that it doesn’t matter what government is in

place, what truly matters is the kind of leader. As long as those in control are good and

moral then the people will prosper. In The Queen of Air and Darkness he makes the point

again that agression is not the answer when he compares Hitler (the Austrian who

imposed his will on the world) to Jesus Christ (the philosopher who made his ideas

available).

Another point White makes that I love is when he has Merlyn tell Arthur the parable of

Elijah and the Rabbi Jachanan. Life is not fair. What may be good for one person

certainly could be disastrous for another. Kay is a great foil for Wart. By showing Kay’s

weaknesses, Wart’s strengths are emphasized.

White even states that the Arthur legend is an Aristotelian tragedy. Arthur is a tragic hero.

He does bring his own destruction upon himself because he transgresses Mordred is

born. Morality and immorality is part and parcel of the human condition dealt with in the

legend. I love White’s ending of the book when he sends “Tom” (of course, a reference to

Thomas Malory) running from the final battle field so people would know of the short

time when people lived free from fear and mayhem “the golden days of Camelot.” To

quote the song, “for one brief moment” there was a Camelot.