Numerous legendary heroes serve as moral modeling and enhance functions in society. The nature and the story behind these heroes vary depending on the beliefs of the people in that society and what the hero represents. In some instances, the legendary hero is assumed to have actually existed to the extent that members of that society attempt to imitate the deeds, behavior, and lifestyle of the hero. King Arthur is an example of such legendary heroes. According to medieval histories and romances, King Arthur was a legendary British leader who led the defense of the British in the 5th and 6th centuries against Saxon (Littleton, Scott & Malcor 33). The details of the defense are contained in English and Welsh folklore and literary inventions. Although there is consensus among the modern historian that the story of King Arthur is unhistorical, the story’s historical background is obtained from various sources such as the Historia Brittonum, writings of Gildas, and the Annales Cambriae (Bryden 6). However, the legend of King Arthur is well-known in literature and because of unsolved Mysteries of History, there is little to suggest it is true.
Although there may be no enough evidence historically to prove the existence of King Arthur, it is important for the people to believe in legends like King Arthur, particularly about their values, what they stood for, and how they approached the challenges of their time. This helps them become better individuals by understanding their surroundings using lessons drawn from these legends to become better members of society. Believing in legends provides people with some information about their history and the history of the world as a whole. The narrative provides people with the history of England. Accordingly, the legends of King Arthur played a vital role in the education of the people concerning the principles that were contemplated as necessary during that time. Through the existence of the narrative, the current generation can learn about the culture, norms, and values of historical England (Bryden 6). Accordingly, the more people believe in the legends of King Arthur, the more they are in a position to value historical elements of England and even proudly associate with the history, hence likely to promote patriotism.
Legends such as the narrative of King Arthur have elements that people can utilize to associate with aspects of life relating to love, bravery, temptations, and loyalty. Through observation, imagination, and personal experiences, we can relate these narratives to our daily lives hence creating motivation and a sense of purpose as we soldier through life. Particularly, this is true because some of the challenges that the legends, such as King Arthur, went through are similar to the ones that the current society is going through (Pyle 15). Accordingly, drawing lessons from these legends, a few techniques and soft skills can be learned and implemented in the current society. Moreover, how this legend is portrayed promotes the urgent need to fight evil in society. For instance, during wars, the Roman army had shields with King Arthur’s image and was depicted fighting giants, monsters, and witches (Littleton, Scott & Malcor 33). The belief in such acts through believing in such legends creates a generation of selfless individuals that stand up for the good of society, whether there is evidence to support them or not.
Works Cited
Bryden, Inga. Reinventing King Arthur: The Arthurian Legends in Victorian Culture. Routledge, 2016.
Littleton, C. Scott, and Linda A. Malcor. From Scythia to Camelot: A radical reassessment of the legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail. Routledge, 2013.
Pyle, Howard. King Arthur and His Knights, The Champions of the Round Table & Sir Launcelot and His Companions: Complete Camelot Series: Collection of Tales & Myths about the Legendary British King. e-artnow, 2018.