Le Morte d'Arthur : Thomas Malory

chiv·al·ry (shĭv'əl-rē)
n. pl. chiv·al·ries

1. The medieval system, principles, and customs of knighthood.
2. 1. The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
   2. A manifestation of any of these qualities.
3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen.

So was King Arthur real or wasn't he? If he did actually exist, he wouldn't have lived the life the fables and legends made him out to have lived. It says that Sir Malory wrote the legends while in prison during the time of the War of the Roses. Being a desperate person in a desperate period of time he probably would have liked the idea of a great ruler and a hero for the people of Briton. Just like today, we create heroes like Superman who are able to do the impossible for our society even when nobody else is able to.

In Arthur's time, attributes like loyalty, honor, and bravery were held much higher than they are today. You had to be committed 100 percent to your King and your cause. If you weren't, you weren't a good Knight, and you were likely to commit treason and be executed for doing so. Today's society is more lax, although we value those things, I don't see it being pushed upon men as a necessity. (I wish it was.)