King Arthur Question?

Question

Who does Arthur battle in the final chapter of his life’s tale, and what is the significance of this?

Answer 1

Some "simple tropes" have been noted however one must not overlook the fact that Arthur suffers from overweening pride aka hubris. He ignores the advice of the surviving knights and suffers. So, Arthur may battle his son but the only reason he really fell at Camlann is based on hubris which caused many classical figures to fall.

Answer 2

Arthur battles his son, Mordred, in the final battle. Several mythological themes are represented in this action.



1. In many myths, the son tries to overthrow his father to become king.

2. Arthur is now paying the price for breaking a sexual taboo. Mordred's mother, Morgan la Fay is Arthur's half sister, although Arthur was not aware of this when Mordred was conceived.

3. Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon, started the whole mess when he desired the Queen Igraine, Morgan's mother. Merlin cast a spell so that Uther looked like Igraine's husband.



So Mordred is now trying to avenge all the wrongs done to himself and his mother's family by destroying Arthur's dream of civilization.

Answer 3

O.K., we know he battled Mordred. The significance is the ancient and almost universial European tradition that the old King must die as he becomes feeble and unfit to rule and the new (read: young and strong) king must take his place to ensure continuity of the tribe. In some Celtic cultures this was an actual event acted out every summer sollstice. The King is dead, long live the King.

Answer 4

The final battle is between Athur and Mordrid, who he finds out is his son, from a woman who he finds out was his sister but she had a spell placed on her to look like someone else. And she raised Mordrid to hate arthur.