King Arthur's character has many faces. He is shown to be kind, wise and generous on one hand, yet at the same time, he can be seen as a weak king who is stubborn, childish, and unable to make wise decisions for himself or for the good of the court. He is described by Nennius as a powerful warrior, who is able to personally slay 960 men in one charge. Wace shows him possessing leadership qualities as he establishes the Round Table to ensure that justice and peace prevail. In Celtic legends, Arthur is a supernatural hero who battles giants, monsters, and witches. He kills the Demon Cat of Losanne and hunts the boar Twrch Truyth driving him into the sea.
Some literary work depicts Arthur as an ideal Christian hero and as among God's elect. Young Arthur is able to withdraw the sword from the stone because he has been chosen by God to be the next king. Officers in the Roman army carried shields bearing portraits of their emperors. Geoffrey describes Arthur having a shield with the likeness of the Virgin Mary; this is a perfect image for a Christian hero who is primarily under the authority of God.
Two Arthurs are present in Arthurian literature. One is an epic hero who is flawless and can do no wrong. He is the ideal, who is the symbol of the values of the Round Table. The second Arthur is more human. He is depicted as a two-dimensional character, with faults and imperfections. This Arthur is more popular, as the reader is better able to relate to an imperfect king than to an untouchable warrior. This Arthur feels fears, jealousy, and has doubts. However despite these flaws he always retains his prestige. Arthur continues to personify the ideal of the chivalric code and remains a glorious, beloved, and respected king whose authority stays intact despite his weaknesses. These qualities make King Arthur a true legend, which continues to fascinate and intrigue audiences throughout the generations.
María Sol Dal Rosso.
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