Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Once and Future King, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Chivalry, Satire & Medieval Life
Fate (Time)
Quest and The Holy Grail
Might vs. Right
War
Summary
Analysis
Everybody in the Castle Sauvage is preparing for Winter. Sir Ector, as The Overlord, oversees all the activities of his household. One morning he receives a letter from King Uther Pendragon, saying that Sir Ector is to receive the King's huntsman to hunt boars in the Forest Sauvage. Although the forest does belong to the King, Sir Ector still considers this command to be tyrannous.
The letter Sir Ector receives is only a minor occurrence but depicts the tyranny of King Uther's rule, under which every person is subject to his unquestionable authority, simply because he is king.
Themes
In the end, Sir Ector resolves to do the King's bidding and retires to his solar, or study, where he writes a submissive response to King Uther saying he will be delighted to host the King's Huntsman.
Sir Ector's passing attempt to counter tyranny is quickly resolved. His actions illustrate the superficiality of any current attempts to curve the king's power.
Themes
