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Motifs
Definition of Paradox
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition
Book 1, Chapter 22
Explanation and Analysis—The King is Dead?:
After the King Uther, Arthur's father, dies in Chapter 22 of The Sword in the Stone, many of the castlefolk say over and over again, "The King is dead; long live the King." This is a stock phrase that has been used in countries with monarchies for centuries at the time of a ruler's death. It is meant to communicate how monarchies support a smooth transfer of power, and that the new king deserves the people's full support immediately upon the death of the previous king.
This phrase is, fundamentally, a paradox: at once, "the king" is dead and living, a logical contradiction. The conclusion is, then, that the dead king and the new king both have an equal claim to the crown, which allows the paradox to take place. Thus, the phrase assumes that power will be handed down to a new monarch. However, in the case of King Uther, there is no new king to succeed him. He has no heir or next of kin. Still, the idiom claims that a king certainly lives (and that he ought to live long). The repeated use of this phrase leads the reader (and the people in the story) to believe the next king is somewhere. This adds tension to the story, especially when the premise of the sword in the stone—which will determine the next king—is introduced immediately afterward.
Related Themes:
