Chapter 2 describes the miracle of the sword in the stone, King Arthur taking the throne, his immediate wars. Chapter 3 begins the various battles. I find it interesting that Arthur is portrayed as passive in many modern versions. In this, he is extremely violent and eager for battle, slaughtering on right and left. Chapter 4: More British domination of other realms. More magical swords that can't be pulled out except by the "right" knight (Balin, this time). Balin lops off the head of a lady who killed his mother (though Balin had killed her brother). Ladies get their heads lopped off every other chapter. Chapter 5: Balin unknowingly fights with his own brother, Balan, as punishment for lopping off the head of woman in Chapter 4. Balin also defiles the chapel of the Holy Grail. Balin is killed by his own brother, and Balin kills his brother. the two are buried together. Merlin takes Balin's sword, sets it in a stone, and it floats on the river until Galahad (son of Lancelot) achieves it years later. Another sword in the stone!
February 1895 (Alice died in 1892) Money problems, jealousy of Wilde; time spent with Lord Wolseley1; off to Ireland to lick his wounds; Irish unrest--Irish landlords boycott all social events; much time spent with manservant Hammond (homosexual attraction again); fancy dress ball, appalling to James, who is only happy in company of Hammond, though Hammond remains a servant and no more; little girl alone on the grounds--inspiration for Turn of the Screw?; conflict with Webster who alludes to Wilde's successful play and HJ's failure; Wolseley was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army . He became one of the most influential and admired British generals after a series of successes in Canada, West Africa, and Egypt, followed by a central role in modernizing the British Army in promoting efficiency. He served in Burma, the Crimean War , the Indian Mutiny , China, Canada and widely throughout Africa—including his Ashanti campaign (18...
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