King Arthur's knights aren't all they're cracked out to be

"So am I brought to shame!" he said to himself. "When I sought only worldly fame, none could gainsay, whether my quarrel was right or wrong; but now that I search for holy things, by my sins I am disqualified." ~ Lancelot speaking about himself on page 390.

In this paragraph, Lancelot highlights the main theme of practically every King Arthur story we have read so far. Whenever the focus knight of a story is on a quest, he can do practically whatever he wants, simply because people believe the knight to be honorable due to his social status. No matter how questionable the knight's actions, they are justified because of the perception that a knight is a good person and champion of the people who cannot defend themselves. However, when a knight faces holy-related problems, things no longer work out for them as they once did. Lancelot claims that although he is one of the most powerful knights, he is also the most "wretched of knights," all because of his secret affair with the queen. This can also extend to the rest of King Arthur's court, as "The Saga of the Mantle" story shows almost every man there engages in sinful relationships with other women. Overall, although King Arthur's knights are praised for their virtue and good will, the Holy Grail begs to differ.