The One and Future King :: Once and Future King Essays

The One and Future King   In The One and Future King by T.H. White the important character, Arthur, learns many important lessons. He is taught many of these lessons by animals. For instance, he learns that might is right field (White 47) from a fish (which turns out to be false), that ants live dictated lives employ to war (121), that owls only kill an otherwise animal if they are starving (69), and a badger teaches him the story of mans creation (168). One of the most important lessons Arthur learns is from a goose, who tells him of a perfect society.   When Merlyn turns Wart (Arthurs nickname) into a goose, another goose named Lyok Lyok teaches him about the lives of geese. Wart migrates with the geese and talks to them. He finds out that geese are very peaceful animals they do not fight with each other, they share any food that they acquire, and each bird only has one nest (172).   This greatly affects Wart because it is so diametrical from humans. He still thinks that he likes war, but then begins to notice how many bad effects war has. Wart starts to question his initial gut-feeling that war is right and necessary. This also allows Arthur to have a more open mind towards other animals lifestyles.   This lesson is also important to me, the reader, because it makes me feel that war is not necessary. If other animals have the king to live peacefully, so should humans. It enforces the idea that people should be kind to one another. It also opens the eyes of readers by letting them get to know the lifestyle habits of other animals and causing them to be accepting.