tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817835476996956670.post4277120563758758308..comments2024-03-12T09:44:18.874-07:00Comments on Howling Frog Books: Morte D'Arthur Readalong, Final WrapupJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817835476996956670.post-50710845399326194972014-12-16T16:24:29.612-08:002014-12-16T16:24:29.612-08:00Wow, what great comments, Phinnea! You've got...Wow, what great comments, Phinnea! You've got me thinking ......<br /><br />I really loved that the story showed the weakness of men. We often think we've got it all together and are very progressive, but if you look at history, we, as humans, mess up again and again. On a very simple level, I felt this book exemplified that universal experience. It reminded me of the Biblical quotation, "all have sinned and fallen short". So while their actions at times could be disappointing, they were very human. And they did struggle to be better people ...... except for some of them, who were just plain bad.<br /><br />Yeh, on one hand Malory shows some really strong women, and on the other he has them passed around in a helpless sort of way, but it surprised me that it didn't seem to bother them and, if it did, they did something about it.<br /><br />It was so much fun reading with you two, and thanks Jean for giving me a metaphorical kick to move me forward. Now I can actually say I read this book and it feels like such an accomplishment!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817835476996956670.post-9694377096085010422014-12-15T21:46:06.783-08:002014-12-15T21:46:06.783-08:00I should probably read TH White again now. I'...I should probably read TH White again now. I'm not sure that Malory was so keen on the Might makes right philosophy. The book amply illustrates the shortcomings of this. And really, very few books forbid killing. I know this purports to be a Christian book and, as such, it ought to, but it never felt all that Christian to me. None of this embodies Christian philosophy until the end when they all go into monasteries. Even seeking the Sangreal doesn't seem so much Christian as idolatrous, but maybe that's just me.<br /><br />I found it interesting that the women were viewed as sexual beings who could be just as interested in a man as a man was in them, but simultaneously they were there largely to be given as rewards.<br /><br />And really, the chutzpah of ol' Launcelot saying how pure Guenever was. Dude. You're totally lying. It is a weird book. Launcelot was basically the best of the bunch, except for totally sleeping with the queen and then lying like a rug about it. <br /><br />I was also amused by the purer knights being referred to as maidens. Perhaps that's just my version? I'm not sure when mine was from. It seemed half modernized. But it was free.Phinneahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871291190598563284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817835476996956670.post-45813067878465073142014-12-15T12:14:09.815-08:002014-12-15T12:14:09.815-08:00I still don't know what I think .... I'm t...I still don't know what I think .... I'm trying to process it all. The whole book was puzzling from start to finish ...... good, but baffling. I wonder if Malory went through some sort of conversion part way through writing it. In any case, I still have my update post #4 to write. I don't even want to think about my final post yet. :-ZCleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.com