TENNYSON'S MORTE D' ARTHUR
AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT.

            Alfred Lord Tennyson (the poet Laureate of the Victorian Age) was a poet of range and variety excelling in romantic narrative, lyric and dramatic monologue. One of his most remarkable and powerful poem was Morte d' Arthur (passing of Arthur) which dealt with the final moments of the legendary King of Britain - Arthur. He was a subject of great interest to Tennyson who went on to produce 'IDYLLS OF THE KING' reinforcing the majestic King in all his grandeur.

An artist portrayal of King Arthur from the movie
Arthur (2004)
by: http://dmkozicka.deviantart.com/

           In my analysis I am going to focus primarily on the interaction between the dying King and his last remaining Knight Sir Bedivere. This part of the poem for some reason deeply affected me. The poet gives a rather detailed and melancholic description of the Arthur's dying state 'his face white and colorless' like the 'withered moon' and compares it to his prime when he in his youth was the 'star of the tournament,' bright and mighty, so very energetic and enthusiastic symbolizing all that was brave and courageous. By constructing two contrasting pictures of the past and the present there is no doubt that Tennyson is recalling the prime of the Victorian Age, where Britain developed and reached the pinnacle of success as a world power, her empire glorious and enlarging, giving way to the famous quote that summed up its strength for centuries - 'the sun never set on the British empire'  and comparing it to the the melancholic and tragic degeneration of the British society and polity at the end of this Age. The strength, valor and might of Arthur, which the poet describes as as 'shattered' is a representation of the mood the British public to the changes taking place in Britain at the end of the Victorian Era. It is the this same feelings of anxiety and despair which is revealed by Arthur's faithful knight Sir Bedivere.

           The bold knight cried out in anguish, 'Ah my Lord Arthur, whither shall I go?' revealing how much he feared a world without his dear King who has been his faith, his friend and guide, without whom he felt lost and had no sense of direction. With a the heartfelt pain he reveals how frightened he is of a world which had none of the stability that he had known. his world was falling apart and he must face it alone. 'I, last go forth, companionless.' By using the word 'bold' Knight cries, the poet is skillfully showing how even the best of men will break and the fear of an uncertain future is an inevitable one. The death of Arthur was for Bedivere, the reality that 'true old times are dead.' By bringing this element of fear and confusion in Bedivere and using a tone that is melancholic but not overtly dramatic, I believe that the poet is also revealing his own sympathy to his society which was also in the same state of mind as that of Sir Bedivere. This can also been seen in the light of situations today, where so many different countries and communities who now faces the fear of radical yet inevitable change and who has come to be confused and dejected by it. As the world around us become confusing and foreign like it was for the British people at the end of the Victorian age, (with the challenge of Darwin, growth of doubt and skepticism, industrialization and modernization and social upheaval) the whole framework of society begins to crumble, as Sir Bedivere's did with the passing of Arthur.

           And yet it was the poet's depiction of Arthur's own response to this cry that what is truly impressive. His declaration, 'the old order changeth yielding place to new', is one of optimism and positivism. Change is inevitable and it can neither be halted nor resisted. And it is not necessary that change will be destructive. If an old order changes, it does provide the opportunity for a new one to emerge. And it is with great sense of humility that he reveals that it is important to have faith because, according to the poet, God always have a plan for mankind. Through Arthur, the poet calls for prayer, 'more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.' And in doing so, the poet does not only reinforce the majesty of Arthur but he also addresses the spiritual question plaguing his society at that time. The growth of Darwinism changed the modes of the belief system and there was such a immense solicitation against the notion of God that people became bereft of spirituality. This call for prayer can therefor been seen as Tennyson's own call to his people to keep faith. It also reveals the humility of Arthur; it shows him to have made peace with his death and this was quite remarkable for a ruler of such grandeur. And this is perhaps the central element of the poem. the refinement shown by Arthur in his deathbed (more rightly, the depiction of such refinement in this legendary King by the poet) can be seen as yardstick of measuring spirituality and practicality in leadership, a lesson needed for leaders of today who are resistant to change and who aims to rule the people from beyond. Arthur with his kind words reinforces his role as a true king and invokes in the heart of Sir Bedivere the strength to move on. Bedivere of course does not start jumping in jubilation but the lines 'long stood Sir Bedivere,' indicates to us that this silence which is overwhelming reveals a contented spirit rather than a tumultuous one.

           Therefore we must, if we are to analyze this poem keep in mind that Bedivere could be a representation of the British society and Arthur, that of the poet (Tennyson) who uses grand solemnity and sense of tragedy to mitigate the inevitability. Many critics had also seen this poem as Tennyson's own way of comforting himself in Arthur Hallam's (Tennyson's friend and confidante and fellow poet) death. This only proves that this fragment of legend which he perfects in his epic, is relevant to any age and any circumstance. There is a Bedivere in all of us when face with change and uncertainty and our own response to these changes is what dictates the route it takes, be it positive or negative. Few individuals can face changes head on and remain resolute. The poet's projection of Arthur, thereby becomes extremely important for there is always a need of such an Arthur to reassure and calm the Bedivere in all of us. That is why this poem becomes not only medieval  but also Victorian, and not only Victorian but also modern, not only religious but also spiritual. Bedivere's dilemma is the same as that of the British society of that time, and us in the modern times and Arthur's faith as that of Tennyson's own; a beautiful blend of two spiritual dimensions.