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.