Bouchard 1
Jon Bouchard
Professor Gayford
ENG105.49
15 April 1004
Paper 3 Title Forthcoming
Since I don’t have a writing partner for this paper, I will conduct a call and response between Lancelot the Man, and Lancelot the Mass. I’ll sketch out what I think is going on in Lancelot’s head and heart in the various situations he encounters as documented in Steinbeck.
Lancelot the Man is really an aphorism for the entire aspect of Lancelot that I think, without being axiomatic, composes the greater portion of the man as we know him through Steinbeck. Lancelot the Man is the one who sheathes his sword instead of slaying his nephew (p.). Lancelot the Emotive, on the other hand, is the one who drew the sword in the first place.
I will refer to Lancelot the Man is that portion of Lancelot that conducts himself with a sometimes subtle, sometimes flagrant, disregard for what is expected of a man who loves and, parabolically, presumably, also sorrows. Lancelot the Emotive is that aspect of Lancelot that is generally relatable to the greater portion of society and the societal expectations placed on a man who feels.
Emotive: “Why do I train so hard, why do I punish myself so? Is it not acceptable to be a good knight, perhaps a great knight? Must I be the best? Must I spend my days in the seclusion of the joust field? How many rings must I snag at the end of my lance before I may cash them in for contentment? How many tournaments must be won before I am good enough?”
Man: “Why not be the best? Is it ever good enough to settle for less than the best? Would I reach for any other than my best sword, my best shield, when I ride into battle? Would any self respecting man give less than his best effort in joust or duel, should that combat be over the honor of that man’s word and the dignity of his name? Likewise, this everyday combat, this life, is won and lost, the name, honored or cursed, depending on whether or not that man lives his life in honesty and openness, in the pursuit of that unattainable greatness that is the best that man can be. I would be remiss if I should give any less than my best in my efforts as a noble knight, a disciplined knight, the best knight; for any less would be to drag my standard through the mire trodden by men whose names are cursed of their own mouths, whose taste-buds turn gangrenous at the speaking of their own deeds.”