For centuries, the legend of an ancient, golden kingdom called Camelot has been one of the main focal points upon which European literature has revolved around.  It is quite possibly the most popular piece of folklore in history—an enchanting mixture of jousting knights, damsels in distress, and a never-ending hunt for the holiest of Christian vessels—the Holy Grail.   The tale tells the story of a wise young boy named Arthur Pendragon who came to the throne of medieval Britain by the rule of a prophecy, and who brought order and justice to the warring land.  It follows the journey of Sir Lancelot du Lac, the greatest knight in the world who strove for perfection and quite often obtained it in order to serve God and his king.  And it describes the destiny of a beautiful young princess named Guinevere who would become the wife of the British king, and the lover of the French knight.

            Thus, the cogs of fate were set in motion as a forbidden love bloomed and threatened to damn the dream of a golden kingdom called Camelot.  The conflict that was established soon thereafter became a dangerous blend of man versus society, man versus self, and man versus fate.  Whereas King Arthur would be challenged to uphold his moral laws and his queen would be challenged to confront her lustful sins, the heaviest weight surely rested upon the shoulders of the third participant.  Sir Lancelot, the brave, chivalric, and nearly perfect knight of Camelot, largely remains the tragic hero of the legend.  For although he is able to defeat any beast, rescue any maiden, and win any tournament, he “has a fatal flaw—he loves Arthur’s queen.” (1).  This encompassing emotion grows so greatly inside his heart that his loyalties are endangered.  And as the legend races toward its climactic end, nearly every moral component that Camelot was built upon is in peril.

            Regardless of the kingdom’s fall, its ruin was unintentionally plotted for nearly twenty-five years as King Arthur’s wife and best friend carried on an affair behind his back (2). The adultery consequently developed into a betrayal of the laws of chivalry.  Lancelot and Guinevere, the star-crossed lovers of Camelot, were very much aware of the risks they were running by having secret trysts, but their passions were so strong that they never managed to officially end their relationship (3).  In time, the conflict developed into a clash between love and duty, and in the end, only one could prevail (4).  The infamous love triangle of Camelot effectively paved the way to the kingdom’s tragic end by violating the laws of chivalry, creating a shameful scandal, and emotionally destroying its participants.