The Web Will Break
...n the downfall of King Arthur. The king discreetly reveals his sadness about his loss of Lancelot’s companionship to Sir Gawain as Gawain is dieing, “I will [disclose] unto you, that in your person and in Sit Lancelot I most had my joy and my [trust]. And now I have lost my joy of you both, wherefore all mine earthly joy is gone from me!” (271). Arthur clearly states that there is nothing left in this world for him to live for, so there is nothing to hold him back from caring whether he lives or dies. Sir Mordred betrays King Arthur in a similar way to Sir Lancelot. Mordred tries to takeover Arthur’s kingdom in his absence by sending out letters, “as though that they had come from beyond the sea, and the letters specified that King Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Lancelot.” (269). Sir Mordred betrays Arthur again by attempting to marry his wife, Guinevere. “And afterward he drew him unto Winchester, and there he took Queen Guinevere, and said plainly that he would wed her (which was his uncle’s wife and his father’s wife).” (269). Sir Mordred’s betrayal is the underlying deliverance of King Arthur’s fatal wound. Mordred and Arthur have a battle over the kingdom. When Arthur charges Mordred and stabs him with his spear, Mordred takes one last swing and kills the king. “And when Mordred felt that he had his death wound he thrust himself with the might that he had up to the [hand guard] of King Arthur’s spear, and right so he smote his father, King Arthur, with his sword holding in both hands, upon the side of the head, that the sword pierced the [lining] of the brain.” (275-276). The lethal stab from Sir Mordred is the beginning of the end of King Arthur. Sir Bedivere betrays Arthur not once, but twice, with his own advantage in mind. As Arthur feels death approaching, he has one last wish of Sir Bedivere to, “… take though here Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water’s side; and when though comest there, I charge the throw my sword in the water, and come again and tell me what thou seest ther...