Similes in Morte d'Arthur

In “Morte d'Arthur” poem, Tennyson uses various symbols to represent the condition of his contemporary society. 

King Arthur is a legendary figure in England. In the poem, Tennyson showed King Arthurs as a Christian soul, a man of pure spirit. King Arthur is the image of lofty morality and his life is attuned to the loftiest standards of a modern-day gentleman. 

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This poem starts when the wounded King Arthur in battle is carried to a broken chancel by Sir Bedivere, the last surviving Knight of his court. This image actually shows the decay of religion. Through the legend of Arthur, the poet actually depicted the condition of his contemporary society. In this poem, the poet says,

“A broken chancel with a broken cross

That stood on a dark strait of barren land.” 

The image of a broken chancel in a barren land actually describes King Arthur’s contemporary England. It depicts the decay of Christianity among the people of England during the Victorian age.

Sir Bedivere is the last surviving knight of King Arthur’s court. He has been with King Arthur from the beginning. He is inspired by the great ideals, which King Arthur represented. The death of Arthur shows the beginning of a dark age. Bedivere is afraid of what would happen to the land. People will lose their faith in religion. This decay is actually the condition of Tennyson’s contemporary society. Bedivere represents the old ideals. Arthur then consoles Bedivere saying that he should adjust to the new order.

King Arthur says, “I perish by this people which I made.” This line refers to King Arthur’s nephew Mordred who fought with him and fatally wounded Arthur. It is believed that Mordred is actually the illegitimate son of King Arthur. The poem “Morte d'Arthur” starts with Arthur being carried by Sir Bedivere, the last surviving knight of his court to a broken chancel. There Arthur tells him that though Merlin, the great magician told him that he would not die, he is not worried about death anymore. Through these lines, the poet actually described the immortal Christian faith and Mordred symbolizes Satan.

Merlin is the great magician of King Arthur’s court. He prophesied that Arthur would not die. In “Morte d'Arthur” poem, it is shown that Arthur is taken to the land of Avilion to tend to his wounds. However, Arthur accepts his fate. Merlin symbolizes “Scientists”. During the Victorian era, scientists had great achievements, which affected the religious beliefs of the people of the Victorian era.

Excalibur is the famous sword of King Arthur. This sword represents the spirit of Christianity. With this sword, Arthur established law and order and religion in a land of chaos and united the people. In “Morte d'Arthur”, King Arthur ordered his knight Sir Bedivere to throw away the sword into the lake from where he took it. The knight obeyed King Arthur’s order. The sword was gone, but Sir Bedivere was there. He represents the ideas of Christianity. King Arthur tells him that change is the law of nature. So, he should adjust to the new order.

Arthur, along with his three wives, sets out for the island of Avilion on a barge. This barge actually symbolizes the grave. It shows that all the things in this world are transitory. The old order dies and the new order starts. This is the law. People should not be afraid of it. If a good thing stays for too long, it becomes evil. Hence, death is not bad. It is natural.

King Arthur, along with his three queens, goes to the Island of Avilion. There they would tend to his wounds. Of these three queens, the tallest and the fairest one took care of him. She took King Arthur’s head on her lap, removed her helmet and rubbed his hands. She was crying and calling his name loudly. Her tears were falling on his brows that were covered with dark blood. Her name was Morgan le Fay and she was the sister of Arthur.

The three queens of King Arthur symbolize three values of Christianity-Faith, charity and hope. A good Christian should be charitable, have faith in God and religion, and should be hopeful. Since King Arthur was a pure Christian man, he possessed these qualities.

King Arthur and his queens leave on a barge. Sir Bedivere stood by the bank and watched the barge till it vanished on the horizon. By that time, it became dawn. This very image actually symbolizes the beginning of a new order.