Moral Choices Essay

Submitted By jesslynnmarae
Words: 881
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jesslynn Grigsby
Professor Andrade
English 2322 WS1
23 March 2014
Moral Choices What does it mean to have morals? According to the Webster dictionary, to have morals means to concern or relate to what is right and wrong in human behavior. These are values that are engraved into a brain at a young age and may change or grow with time. One person may have values that are completely different from the person sitting next to them. Sir Thomas Malory’s story of “Morte Darthur”, is a great example of “Christian and chivalric” (Armstrong 1) morals and how they differ from others. Each knight has their own perspective, and the story allows its readers to see those. As Lancelot continues his affair with Guinevere, Gaheris and Gareth vow to stay unarmed when taking Guinevere to be burnt, Gawain declines the order to guard Guinvere, and Lancelot refuses to kill Gawain, it shows that each knight has their own moral decisions to attend to. King Arthur welcomes Lancelot on to his court, quickly noticing his courage and character. This led Arthur to confide and trust in Lancelot, but little did he know that Lancelot was going to fall in love at the first sight of his wife, Guinevere. Lancelot jumps at the chance to ask Guinevere to name him her knight and champion when King Arthur set off on an adventure. Upon Arthur’s return, Guinevere admits her love for Lancelot and continues on with an obsession-like affair lasting for many years. The first time Lancelot lays eyes on Guinevere he is forced to make a moral decision. Readers are led to believe that Lancelot can be a well-trusted knight, and setting the standards high as to what his morals may be. Under first impression, he appears to be a genuinely caring guy, but soon his morals are tested with an affair. It becomes clear that Lancelot “disavows both marriage and ‘tak[ing] my pleasure with paramours (270.28-271.4)” (Grimm 2). He consistently shows a direct correlation between adultery, lustfulness, and marital hardship. Lancelot’s choice of adultery was not a decision made for the better, but more as a selfish act. Instead of avoiding the situation with King Arthur’s wife, he created an act that gives the court a reason to believe Lancelot is in it for himself; untrustworthy. Because of Lancelot’s affair with Guinevere, King Arthur is forced to sentence her to burn at the stake. Arthur has given orders to his nephews, Gawain, Mordred, Gareth, and Gaheris, to keep watch on the scene knowing an attempt to rescue Guinevere could occur from Lancelot. Gawain, a courteous and compassionate warrior, is firmly loyal to his king and family. That gets proved true as Gawain refuses to be involved in a deed that will show dishonor to the queen. This act shows the morals of Gawain tremendously. He does not believe it is respectful to treat a queen in that manner, and stands up for what he thinks is right. This decision is for the best, as it allows the society to see a true, and loyal knight. By standing up for his beliefs, he is showing society that the ruler is not always right, and that it is okay to speak up for what they believe. Also showing loyalty to the queen, the brothers, Gaheris and Gareth chose not to be armed in the duty of escorting Guinevere to the stake. Although they were unable to get away from the king’s orders of
Show More

Related Documents: Moral Choices Essay

Abortion- Is It a Moral or an Immoral Choice? Essay

The title of the first article is "Abortion is a Moral Choice" by Henry Morgentaler. This article upholds women's rights to abortion in the belief that it reduces the number of unwanted children and also reduces the number of adult criminals that suffer from childhood neglect or parental abuse. The title of the second article is "Abortion is Immoral" by John Paul II. This article objects abortion in the belief that it is a crime which kills an innocent human being and also against all Christian…

Words 1687 - Pages 7

Survival In Elie Wiesel's Life Of Pi

the situation people’s morals will change and they will do whatever it takes to survive and how people have to make the hardest choices of their lives to survive. In life people have to make choices, whether they are easy or hard. No matter what they still have to make them. Kind of like Elie Wiesel in the book Night on page 31 when he had to lie about his age to the Nazi to not be killed for being too young to work. In this situation he had to make a very difficult choice to be able to stay alive…

Words 635 - Pages 3

Essay about Freewill and Determinism

agree that people are morally responsible only for the actions they carry out freely and deliberately. Determinism states that there are laws of nature which govern everything which happens, every choice we make was determined by the situation before it and so implies infinite regress. Freedom of choice is just an illusion and so personal responsibility is meaningless, as are blame and punishment. This makes it difficult to make any sense of the idea that people are to be held morally and legally…

Words 1324 - Pages 6

Virtue Ethics Essays

Ethics and Choices ETH 316 In the past two to three centuries from the times of Greek and Roman times people have already begun observing other’s individual self being such as characteristic. These characteristics are known to be ethical behavior and people who like your character tend to be around you or have you in a team, have more fans, and etc. This paper will discuss the similarities and differences of what is called virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological…

Words 645 - Pages 3

Sartre View on Free Will Essays

fundamental plan precedes and grounds our small choices. In that sense freedom is the source of all values. It is not logically possible to make sense of human responsibility and notions of justice without a conception of free will. This is because it is free will that allows us as humans to choose and make the right decisions in life. According to Sartre man is responsible…

Words 878 - Pages 4

Acts That Do Not Alter The Nature Of An Action

Points Awarded: 4 3. The moral conditions that are added to and modify the moral nature of an action. (4 points) Circumstances Situation ethics Moral Relativism Rationalism Consequentialism Correct Points Awarded: 4 4. The first goal of the intention and purpose pursued in the action. (4 points) Circumstances Object of an action Moral Relativism Intention of an Action End of an Action Correct Points Awarded: 4 5. The free and responsible choice a person makes to orient…

Words 1060 - Pages 5

Ayn Rand's Objectivism

justifiable self-interest, and following one's pleasure. Applying objectivism to the moral dilemmas surrounding abortion offers a distinct perspective that may deviate from other accepted ethical notions. Using the idea of individual rights as a focal point, this paper examines how Ayn Rand's objectivism supports a pro-choice stance on abortion. In ethics, Rand argued for rationality and ethical egoism as the guiding moral principles. She said the individual should "exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing…

Words 492 - Pages 2

The Moral Theory Utilitarianism: The Skilled Surgeon

The moral theory utilitarian applies to this scenario in the thought that the skilled surgeon is to be given the lifesaving drug. This would directly apply to the understanding that this would create the greatest net balance of happiness over unhappiness. This action will harm many others but will have the greatest benefit for all others in the long term. The skilled surgeon can live and continue to help save others. I agree with the course of action of the utilitarian moral principle. The surgeon…

Words 342 - Pages 2

Comparing Mill And Utilitarianism

though interesting, are morally unimportant, as consequences are really what impact lives. Although utilitarianism does seem to push people towards the correct moral choices the majority of the time, by distinguishing higher pleasures and ignoring such distinctions in pain, especially in cases that take away a person’s autonomy, important moral distinctions are never recognized, which greatly decreases the theory’s validity. Utilitarianism directs everyone…

Words 1452 - Pages 6

Blood In Macbeth

Often, when people make significant moral decisions in their life, the decision to stray from or follow what is morally right shapes them as a person. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, blood is a motif that follows many of the characters throughout the play. It’s most simple description being a bodily fluid essential to life and key to being alive and human. In Macbeth, the nation of scotland is humanized as well. However as the play progresses, the idea of blood evolves into not only a marker…

Words 1545 - Pages 7