King Arthur and His Knights by Thomas Malory and The Tempest by William Shakespeare Essay Example

This has enraged Sir Gawain and he seeks to avenge his brother's death by killing Sir Lancelot. His exact words were, "..

Sir Gawain promised to God that he would search for Sir Lancelot in seven kings realms and either slay him or be slain, after his brother Sir Gareth's death. He considered Sir Lancelot as his role model among all other knights of the round table. But when he discovered that Lancelot had killed Gareth, he became furious and filled with animosity and the desire for revenge. Gawain informs King Arthur that he will vow to God to kill Sir Lancelot for his brother's death.

The strength and persistence of his vengeance is fueled by his determination and love for his brother. This highlights the innate selfishness and lack of consideration among humans, as seen in cases where betrayal leads to almost immediate retribution. The Tempest echoes this sentiment, particularly in Prospero's recounting of his relationship with his own sibling to Miranda. He laments, "A falsehood in its contrary as great/ As my trust was- which had indeed no limit,/A confidence sans bound, He being thus lorded/ Not only with my revenue yielded/ But my power might else exact". (Iii l - 44-49) Through these words, we see how deeply Antonio's betrayal cut Prospero, eroding the very foundation of their bond. When Prospero later explains his motivations for creating the storm to Ariel, he notes the significance of a particular star and how failing to heed it could jeopardize his fortunes.

According to III L - 180-182, Prospero is confident that his luck will turn and justice will be served against his enemies. He plans to punish

Antonio for taking his title as ruler of Milan by bringing him to the island. The anger and hatred resulted from his brother's betrayal prompts him to seek vengeance and balance their relationship. Prospero saw an opportunity to retaliate against his brother and seized it. Caliban also feels betrayed as Prospero, a sorcerer who deceived him, took away his rightful land, as stated by him, "As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer/ that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island."

Caliban's perception of ownership on the island is twisted. He believes that because he was born on the island and it belonged to his mother, it is his. He expresses his desire for revenge towards Prospero, saying "If thy greatness will revenge it on him" (IIIii l - 39-40 and l 50).

Despite Prospero's moral reasoning, when he declared Caliban the prisoner of the island, he felt as though he was usurping ownership of the land. Caliban, who has always harbored resentment towards Prospero, turns to Stephano for help seeking revenge against his captor and reclaiming his rightful home. The act of betrayal by Prospero fuels Caliban's desires for vengeance. Both texts feature characters who have experienced betrayal and subsequently seek retribution.

Experiencing hatred and anger that culminates in vengeance can occur in both close and damaged relationships. King Arthur and Prospero serve as examples of individuals who lost trust in a person they shared a strong bond with. King Arthur's profound love for Sir Lancelot appeared unbreakable, until he discovered Lancelot's affair with his wife, leading him to believe that their relationship was built on deceit.

The characters in the

tales, including those considered minor like Sir Gawain and Caliban, have experienced betrayal and sought revenge in different ways. The negative path chosen by one character was directed towards killing Lancelot, while another character, Prospero, who was exiled by his brother Antonio, felt greatly hurt and betrayed by their broken relationship. Similarly, Sir Gawain and Caliban suffered close to or already damaged relationships due to betrayal. All these characters were prompted to seek revenge as a result of actions that were not properly thought through by those who betrayed them.

In the midst of attempting to save Queen Guinevere's life, Lancelot accidentally killed Sir Gareth, which infuriated Sir Gawain. Gawain believed that Lancelot had deliberately betrayed his trust and killed his brother. Similarly, Prospero did not intend to harm Caliban by taking over his island, but rather saw it as a way to benefit him. However, Caliban did not share this belief and felt betrayed. Had Prospero been more considerate of his actions, Caliban may not have attempted to betray him by trying to rape Miranda and kill Prospero.

When one experiences betrayal, its severity can result in anger and hatred that leads to ruthless decision-making with unforeseeable consequences, such as everlasting damage from seeking revenge. Forgiveness is an important virtue, especially tested in such instances. A classic example of betrayal occurred when Dame Elaine, who adored Sir Lancelot, tricked him into thinking she was Queen Guinevere. After their night together, Sir Lancelot was furious to discover the truth the next morning. He accused Elaine of being a false traitress for betraying him and demanded to know her identity. She revealed herself as Elaine, King Pelles' daughter.

Sir

Lancelot displays mercy towards Dame Elaine instead of anger, choosing to forgive her betrayal. Despite his love for Queen Guinevere and his responsibility as an honourable man, he understands that holding resentment towards Elaine would not benefit their relationship. By exemplifying that betrayal doesn't always require a negative response and showing mercy, Sir Lancelot proves that this is the most effective approach. Contrastingly, Sir Gawain sought to avenge his brother's death by killing Sir Lancelot who remained forgiving despite the betrayal.

After multiple conflicts between them, Sir Gawain's death led him to convey his feelings about Sir Lancelot through a written message before his own demise. The letter states, "...

Sir Gawain, who belonged to the Round Table, takes ownership of his own death wish and feels undeserving of it. He beseeches Sir Lancelot to come back to the realm and pay a visit to his grave, while also extending a prayer for his soul irrespective of its importance.

In his final days, Sir Gawain sought out Sir Lancelot and realized that seeking revenge for Sir Gareth's death had led to his own downfall. His dying wish was for Lancelot to visit his tomb and pray for his soul, in hopes of reconciling their differences and seeking justice for his brother's murder. Despite acknowledging Lancelot's duty to Queen Guinevere, Gawain believed that someone as virtuous as him could never be defeated.

Both Sir Gawain and The Tempest demonstrate the power of forgiveness, even in the face of great anger and betrayal. Sir Gawain's ability to forgive despite harboring a tremendous amount of anger towards a specific individual is truly remarkable. Similarly, The Tempest also showcases characters choosing forgiveness over

revenge. For instance, Prospero, who has been repeatedly betrayed by Caliban, including an attempted murder plot, ultimately decides to show mercy and forgive him, despite Caliban's earlier actions. "For he's a bastard one- had plotted with them/ to take my life"...

Prospero urges Caliban and his companions to go to his cell and tidy it up if they want his forgiveness. By doing this, Prospero reveals that he values forgiveness over revenge and has learned from his previous mistakes in choosing anger and resentment towards Caliban. In fact, Prospero treats Caliban as his own child and takes responsibility for him, despite his betrayal. Similarly, parents often use this approach to show their children that they have been forgiven. Despite being significantly betrayed by his brother Antonio, Prospero understands that holding onto hatred is not always the right course of action and chooses forgiveness instead.

The quote "For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother/ would even infect my mouth, I do forgive/ Thy rankest fault- all of them." (Vi l - 130-131) embodies the damaged relationship between Prospero and Antonio; Prospero can no longer consider him a brother. Despite this severance, Prospero still forgives Antonio completely. He recognizes that if he holds onto anger, their relationship cannot progress. Prospero's own experience with betrayal led him to acknowledge his own faults and the necessity of forgiveness. These texts illustrate that forgiveness is a crucial outcome of betrayal.

Both Sir Gawain and Prospero have admitted to their errors in seeking revenge and have realized that it only leads to more suffering and loneliness. Gawain's quest for vengeance for his brother's death ultimately led to his own downfall, causing

him to seek peace before passing away. Both Gawain and Prospero have chosen to forgive and forget, no longer willing to live consumed by hatred. These two texts demonstrate how even small betrayals, such as Elaine pretending to be Queen Guinevere or Caliban's unsuccessful attempt on Prospero's life, can serve as a reminder that forgiveness and compassion can transform a person's life.

The impact of betrayal on individuals and families can be profound, as exemplified by Sir Lancelot's choice between forgiving or killing Elaine. Opting for forgiveness could have altered the course of their lives. Similarly, Prospero's decision to forgive Caliban leads to Caliban striving for a better life while freeing Prospero from any burden. Betrayal often gives rise to forgiveness since holding onto anger, vengeance, and hatred is ephemeral. It is better to move forward in relationships rather than remain stagnant and unhappy. Humans are imperfect beings who may sometimes act selfishly toward those closest to them. While betrayal is an inevitable part of life, our responses vary.

The characters of King Arthur and Prospero in their respective works, King Arthur and His Knights and The Tempest, encounter deception and react similarly. At first, both respond with fury, animosity, and a yearning for retribution. Nevertheless, they eventually gain wisdom from their errors and demonstrate compassion, generosity, and pardon. The responses of these two heroes to betrayal illustrate typical human reactions to trials in life. An individual's response to dishonesty exposes their genuine nature.

After recognizing their authentic self, individuals have the option to proceed with their life without hindrance, alter their image, or improve themselves through their experience. Although it is unfortunate, betrayal is an essential

aspect of our lives because it reinforces our defenses and ultimately leads to a better understanding and appreciation of life's true significance.