The Romantic Arthurian Hero

The term romantic hero is a loosely defined concept with numerous examples.
One figure that tends to fit the criteria as a romantic hero is the legendary King Arthur. No King
Arthur does this better than T.H. Whites from his novel The Once and Future King. Whites
King Arthur is an ideal example of what a romantic hero should be.

King Arthur, physically, is everything a romantic hero should be. Arthur is

physically strong and athletic. His athletic prowess is shown in the line The Wart found himself
running with Master Twyti (159). For Wart to keep up with a master huntsman such as Master
Twyti, as well as with Robin Wood, he surely must be a stellar athlete. Arthur lives a simple,
uncluttered, and direct life. His simple life is displayed in the lines King Arthur paid no
attention to the coming battle. He sat invisible in his pavilion, at the hub of excitement, and
talked to Sir Ector or Kay or Merlyn day after day (285). King Arthur ignores the excitement
surrounding him in favor of idle conversation with his friends. Arthur has an intimate
understanding of the natural world. This is displayed in the scene when the boys take Cully out
for some hunting But at the last moment he thought better or worse of and subsided without
rattle. This movement of the hawks made Wart itch to carry him (16). Even the subtle ruffling
of Cullys feathers, does not go unnoticed by Warts adeptly tuned senses. Arthur is a natural and
strong leader. His sense of leadership is shown in the line Arthur called off the hunt, judged
accurately that the insurgents were demoralized, and allowed his men to sleep in comfort on their
arms, with but careful sentries (325). Arthur displays sound judgment and leadership skills in

calling off the unnecessary advancement of his troops in favor of a much needed and earned rest
while remaining vigilant enough to post sentries. King Arthur, physically, is ideal as a romantic
hero.
King Arthur carries the very traits of a romantic hero. Arthur is vibrant and
energetic throughout his life. His energy is illustrated in his battle with King Lot King Lot had
personal successes against Sir Meliot de la Roche and against Sir Clariance. He was unhorsed by
Kay, and horsed again only to be wounded in the shoulder by Arthur himselfwho was
everywhere, youthful, triumphant, over-excited (324). While in battle against King Lot, Arthur
is full of life and energy. Arthurs origin is a mystery for much of the novel. In fact his origin is
not revealed until the very end of book one by Merlyn, your father was, or will be King Uther
Pendragon, and it was I myself, disguised as a beggar, who first carried you to Sir Ectors castle,
in your golden swaddling bands (227). Arthurs previously unknown origin is revealed to be
from the loins of none other than King Uther Pendragon, making him the rightful heir to the
throne of England. Arthur draws his strength of character from the natural world. he finds this
strength while attempting to borrow the sword from the stone for Kay:
There was a kind of rushing noise, and a long chord played along with it. All round the
churchyard there were hundreds of old friends. They rose over the church wall all
together, like the Punch and Judy ghosts of remembered days, and there were badgers and
nightingales and vulgar crows and hares and wild geese and flacons and fishes and dogs
and dainty unicorns and solitary wasps and corkindrills and hedgehogs and griffins and
the thousand other animals he had met. They loomed round the church wall, the lovers
and helpers of the Wart, and they all spoke solemnly in turn. Some of them had come
from the banners in the church, where they were painted in heraldry, some from the

waters and the sky and the fields aboutbut all, down to the smallest shrew mouse, had
come to help on account of love. Wart felt his power grow. (220)
Wart draws upon the super natural powers of the animals of his transformations in order to find a
new strength and pull the sword from the stone. King Arthurs background and traits are the very
essence of a romantic hero.
King Arthur is the embodiment of the ideals carried by romantic heroes.
Arthurs view of the world is the same as that of an innocent boy. In his confrontation with
Morgause Arthur is said to be a simple fellow, who took people at their own valuation easily
(337). Much like a nave boy, Arthur fails to see the biasness in a personal testimony. Arthur is
the living vessel of noble and righteous virtues. Wart while fantasizing about being a knight
describes what he would do as a knight:
If I were to be made a knight, said the Wart, staring dreamily into the fire, I should insist
on doing my vigil by myself, as Hob does with his hawks, and I should pray to God to let
me encounter all the evil in the world in my own person, so that if I conquered there
would be none left, and, if I were defeated, I would be the one to suffer for it. (195)
Wart dreams of becoming a knight so that he may vanquish all the evil from the world or at the
very least save the people from the suffering wrought on by said evil. Arthur is the once and
future king. Here Merlyn tells Wart of the future that awaits him, Hic jacet Arthurus Rex
quondam Rexque futurus. Do you remember your Latin? It means, the once and future king
(309). While he may die in body, Arthurs spirit is eternal through the people of England. King
Arthur is the noblest of romantic heroes.

The purpose for romantic heroes goes beyond just T.H. Whites The Once and
Future King. Romantic heroes offer a glimmer of hope as a beacon of light in the darkness that
has become mankind. They offer themselves as a golden standard for which to strive towards.
For to achieve excellence you must strive for perfection. No romantic hero accomplishes this
better than T.H. Whites King Arthur.