Arthur
...incest is not intentional on Arthur’s part, but it is a sin that he cannot escape the punishment of. This tragedy is heightened by the fact that his downfall is brought about by his own friends and family; Morgause, his half-sister; Agravaine and Mordred, his nephews; Guenever, his wife; and Lancelot, his best friend. Those close to Arthur made mistakes that would lead to his eventual downfall. Merlyn’s forgetfulness kept him from informing Arthur of his mother’s name, “...but suddenly he remembered it in his sleep-the simplest thing! It was Arthur's mother’s name which he had forgotten to mention in the confusion!” (310). If Arthur had known the identity of his mother, he would not have slept with his own sister. This account with his sister created Mordred, who, taught by his mother that revenge had to be taken, would be his father’s killer. King Arthur’s compassionate optimism keeps him from acknowledging Lancelot and Guenever’s love affair, and later, this causes him to persuade them to keep their conduct a secret. Arthur’s ignorance is proven to sometimes be harmful. Arthur fails to talk to Lancelot about Lancelot’s affair with Guenever, avoiding the truth and the honest confrontation that the issue needs. Arthur knows about the affair, but because of his justice and goodwill, he remains resolutely blind to the is...