The First Knight Essay, Research Paper

Ricky Temple Jr.

11 – 1 – 99 5thp.

Back in 1995, a director by the name of Jerry Zucker and with the help of

Columbia Pictures, Sean Connery, Richard Gere, and Julia Ormond, the ” First Knight ”

hit the box office. The “First Knight”; a movie of adventure, love, suspense, and in an epic

retelling of a timeless and tragic love triangle Three lives are converged in the golden city

of Camelot in a age when fearless knights on horseback roamed the unknown lands in

search of a quest. One character that completed the adventure of a lifetime was the

character named Lancelot. He was a knight of the round table, romantic, and brave. Even

though he seems the perfect warrior, there were certain trials he had to go through in order

to maintain his position in the history books. How much would a true warrior have to go

through in order to succeed? Well, there has to be a foundation and a starting mark.

Lancelot didn’t begin as a knight. He was a wanderer. Lancelot didn’t come to

Camelot looking to be a knight nor dreamed of peace and brotherhood and nobility, but

just wanted to contain his own freedom. Lancelot was conceived not as a Knight but as a

man with a troubled past because of the death of his parents in a burning church.. In this

film, Lancelot is emotionally damaged. He is like a traveling samurai. He has no

connections, no responsibilities, and no fear. This is why he was mentioned for being the

perfect fighter. King Author was the king of Camelot and the head of the knights of the

round table. Author senses something special in Lancelot. He sensed something that nay

be use to him one day but he doesn’t quite know yet. So, he issued him a spot at the round

table and gave him the privledge to be knighted. Lancelot has came from such a distance

from being a outcast to one of the most important people in the kingdom. Though his

influence on others were strong, he was also very romantic. The lady by the name

Guinevere played a big role in the movie and in Lancelot’s life.

Guinevere’s first encounter with Lancelot leaves them both shaken. There was

a clear and very strong connection between them. They were two complete opposites

because he was a man filled with freedom and careless abandon and meeting this woman

who contains such important responsibilities and obligations created friction. She was

attracted to his ability to run and be free and he senses that she is someone who is very

grounded and has a home while Lancelot doesn’t. He gives away his strong feeling for the

need for that sense of home even though he doesn’t admit it. The fact that Lancelot saves

her life opens a door that she forever indebted to him. When Lancelot kisses her, it opens

another door that Guinevere probably anticipated. It’s like she has been given a glance

into another world between her attraction to him and her love for Arthur. Their love for

each other began to build and caused a major disruption between King Author and his

queen. Going through all of these situations, a person must contain a lot bravery. Lancelot

did not lack this characteristic.

Lancelot is a man of great bravery and courage. His acts toward his society has

touched many. One example of his bravery is how he takes on the challenge of the obstacle

course called the “Gullible” and the winner would win a kiss from the queen ( who is

Guinevere). The reason why he probably did this is because Lancelot promised her that he

wouldn’t kiss her anymore unless she wanted to. Lancelot won the challenge and knowing

she wouldn’t want to kiss him, he said, ” I dare not kiss so lovely a lady. I have but one

heart to lose.” He also took charge of the battlefield in the time of war against Malagant (

Ex- Knight of the round table). He stayed by the King’s side throughout thick and thin,

even when he was mad at him. Lancelot also was the one to save the people that were

trapped inside a burning church. Seeing this caused a major flashback to turn on him and

think about the death of his parents. This caused a major change in Lancelot’s life not

counting the responsibilities of being a knight of the round table.

Lancelot was known for his bravery, being romantic, and being a knight of the

round table. But, these things didn’t come quickly . There were steps that he had to take

in order to get to where he was. Being a knight gave him the responsibility that he needed

in his life. Being romantic caused Guinevere to fall in love with him. His bravery saved

many lives and made a dying king proud of him and his works. Also, because of his deeds,

he became king of Camelot. Lancelot, a warrior who didn’t care whether he lived or

died.