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As for the characters--King Arthur, of course, is the main one, and his whole role in this book is to CREATE A SET OF LAWS AND ENFORCE THEM. He does this with differing degrees of success. His laws must encompass everyone, and when Guenever and Lancelot are caught in their adultery, he must enforce the laws on them also (even though he doesn't want to). Arthur is kind and forgiving and generous, and it is these qualities which make him lovable and vulnerable. Only by attacking these qualities can Mordred make any claim to the throne. It seems to me that good leaders can detach themselves from personal situations and make decisions regardless of their personal stake in them. Arthur cannot detach himself in that way. He cares too much about people, an attribute which makes him a nice person but not the best leader.
Lancelot is a dullard except when it comes to battle. He is simple, not too bright, and loyal. He's a good dog! *L* And kings need good dogs to carry out their commands.
Guenever is treated differently in "Once and Future" than she is in most of the other Arthurian books. Most of them are misogynist (women hating) in nature, and Guenever bears the brunt. She is almost always blamed for the fall of Camelot because of her affair with Lancelot (for some reason, they never blame Lancelot). But in White's story, she appears as a real person who is in love with Lance, but loyal to Arthur. She loves them both but in different ways--Arthur as her king, Lancelot as her lover. White shows us the struggle she feels within herself as she agonizes over her decisions.
Merlin is the magical assistant that all heroes in myth have. In this story he is a wizard who hides his wisdom behind the facade of a bumbling fool. White has him live backward through time, which gives him perspective.
Merlin mentions Hitler, which is important because the book is basically an anti-war book, but also a pro-law book. Written at the advent of WW II, the book shows us what White firmly believed--That Might does not make Right. The point of the book (it's major theme) can be found on p. 246 (of the ACE paperback version) about two pages into Chapter 6. Arthur explains to Merlin what he has been thinking about since the battle in Chapter 2. Arthur says, "I don't think things ought to be done because you are able to do them. I think they should be done because you ought to do them."
This idea brings about the whole concept of laws and chivalry. To me Chapters 2 and 6 are the most important in the book.
The problem comes from the savage side of man. If we think of Arthur and Lancelot and Guenever and Merlin as symbolic of what is good in people, we have Gawain and Agravaine and Mordred to show us waht is bad in people. Man has his savage side that will not be bound by something as invisible as laws. Gawaine and his brothers kill the unicorn--the symbol of beauty, purity, and innocence--in order to win the love of their mother. It is a selfish act with just consequences. First, their mother ignores them, then she punishes them for killing the beast. Sir Bruce sans Pitie (meaning "Bruce without mercy") kills and rapes and pillages for his own selfish desires, then begs for mercy under the chivalric system. He has learned to play the system (as people in our society have learned to play the welfare system or the legal justice system). He breaks the laws, then uses the laws to save himself.
In chapter 6, Arthur talks about doing away with the old order of things, which is the world of Lot, Orkney, and Uriens, the order of Might makes Right. He wants a new order built on laws. In the end, the system based onlaws fails. EVERY SYSTEM FAILS IN THE END. I think the story is called "The Once and Future King" because we always have to be redefining and recreating the systems of society. If we never add any new energy or new ideas into society, it becomes stagnant and falls apart. That recreation of society is the "future" part of the title. Things may fall apart and the center may not hold, but if we work to do what is right by ourselves and our fellow man, the good can come back and recliam its rightful position.
Also, if you read the last chapter when Arthur is speaking to the page Tom (Sir Thomas Mallory), you will get a good sense of the book. by Kent Hawley
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