The Once and Future King Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph.)

Quote #7

Probably it is not possible to love two people in the same way, but there are different kinds of love. Women love their children and their husbands at the same time—and men often feel a lusty thought for one woman while they are feeling a love of the heart for another. (K.9.1)

What's interesting is that Guenever breaks the typical feminine mold described here. She doesn't have any children, and she has lusty thoughts for another man (Lancelot) while feeling a genuine love for Arthur.

Quote #8

She behaved like herself. And there must have been something in this self, some sincerity of heart, or she would not have held two people like Arthur and Lancelot. Like likes like, they say. (K.34.6)

Even though an extramarital affair is usually not the route to go, the book allows Guenever to be an admirable character anyway. There's something about her that both Arthur and Lancelot sincerely love. She has depth to her, and could not retain their love without it. In this way, she reflects some of their qualities.

Quote #9

For in those days love was ruled by a different convention to ours. In those days it was chivalrous, adult, long, religious, almost platonic. It was not a matter about which you could make accusations lightly. It was not, as we take it to be nowadays, begun and ended in a long week-end. (K.44.10)

The spectators at the tournament between Lancelot and Meliagrance think that he totally deserves his fate, because his accusations have proven false (well, not really, but that's what they think anyway). Love back then was more pure than it is in the modern world. At least that's the story the narrator's sticking to. What do you think?