Idylls of the King · Chapter
Lancelot and Elaine explained
Elaine of Astolat dies of unrequited love for Lancelot.
What happens
Elaine of Astolat dies of unrequited love for Lancelot. Arthur orders a lavish burial and rebukes Lancelot for not marrying her. Lancelot, tormented by guilt and his secret love for Guinevere, reflects on his shame. Meanwhile, rumors spread at court about Lancelot and the 'lily maid,' causing Guinevere jealousy. Elaine, still alive in earlier scenes, persuades her father to let her seek Lancelot.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Betrayal
Elaine's pure love for Lancelot contrasts with Lancelot's secret betrayal of Arthur through his love for Guinevere.
Ideal vs. Real
Arthur's ideal of knightly purity clashes with Lancelot's flawed reality; Elaine represents an ideal love that cannot be realized.
Sacrifice and Loss
Elaine sacrifices her life for love; Lancelot faces the loss of his honor and peace.
Characters to notice
- Sir Lancelot
Grieves over Elaine's death, feels remorse for his love for Guinevere, and is praised by Arthur.
- King Arthur
Orders Elaine's honorable burial and urges Lancelot to marry her, expressing disappointment.
- Guinevere
Admits jealousy to Lancelot; later feels bitter as rumors spread about Lancelot and Elaine.
- Elaine
The 'lily maid' of Astolat who dies for love of Lancelot; her body is brought to Camelot.
- Sir Lavaine
Elaine's brother, who is amazed to see her at Camelot.
- Sir Torre
Elaine's other brother, who guides her to Camelot.
Key passages
“He raised his head, their eyes met and hers fell, He adding, 'Queen, she would not be content Save that I wedded her, which could not be.'”
Lancelot explains to Guinevere that Elaine wanted marriage, which he could not offer.
Lancelot recounts Elaine's demand to the Queen.
“Let her tomb Be costly, and her image thereupon, And let the shield of Lancelot at her feet Be carven, and her lily in her hand.”
Arthur commands a grand tomb for Elaine, with Lancelot's shield and a lily carved on it.
Arthur honors Elaine with a symbolic monument.
“Forgive me; mine was jealousy in love.”
Guinevere asks Lancelot to forgive her jealousy.
Guinevere admits her jealousy to Lancelot.
“Free love, so bound, were freest,' said the King.”
Arthur argues that true freedom in love comes from commitment.
Arthur responds to Lancelot's claim that love cannot be bound.
“Alas for Arthur's greatest knight, a man Not after Arthur's heart!”
Lancelot laments that he, though the greatest knight, does not live up to Arthur's ideals.
Lancelot's internal remorse about his unworthiness.