----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Krummenacker avona@jps.net
As for being a Lancelot apologist-- in everything but this poem, I detest the character. He's full of himself and ruined several women's lives, not just Gweneviere's, because he had a marriage that he abandoned when the amnesia that made him forget Gwenwviere wore off. I believe he ran off from an engagement as well. However, in this context he was no more responisble for the Ladu of Shallott's death than I would be responsible for a man spotting me from across a street, who wanted to come over and hit on me and stepped out in front of a truck while my back was turned. I'd never seen the man before in my life,
OK, I suppose we *are* in agreement here really. I tend to dislike Lancelot for the same reasons (I feel sorrier for Elaine than for Guinevere, really-- G. at least had Arthur as well), and you're right, he *wasn't* under any obligation to feel sorry for her. It's just that this whole Avon-apologist thing has gotten me a bit sensitive lately... my own fault for liking a good argument I guess :).
Fiona
The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane Available for public perusal at http://nyder.r67.net
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