Imagine a world without education and individual thought. Our world would be catastrophically effected. It would lack creativity and uniqueness. Education had the same effect upon Arthur and Agravaine. The Once and Future King by T.H. White demonstrates not only divergence in education, but also variations in those who receive it. Both Agravaine and Arthur were given the gift of education which shaped and defined their character, but the dissimilarity in the outcome was drastic. Education was their commonality, but as The Once and Future King proved the methods of teaching, the environment, and the teacher himself, produced a different product. .
Meryln created a whimsical world of magic for Arthur to derive instruction. He didn't want Arthur to be wondering what the world was made of, but instead to feel comfortable within his wonder. "[Arthur] will have to think the rest [himself]" (225). In one instance in particular, Arthur expresses his desire to know what it's like to fly. Instead of handing over that sacred gift, Merlyn enunciated the importance of his bequest. Arthur was able to understand that even those who are able to rise above, like the birds, have obstacles. Arthur learns from this the importance of understanding. For his entire life, he had a premature conception of a blasé lifestyle and looked upon that with envy, however in reality even those one marvels at aren't entirely fulfilled. Another example of Merlin's metaphorical teachings was Mr. Pike. The king of the moat demonstrated supremacy within his ideas, "Power is of the individual mind, but the mind's power is not enough. Power of the body decides everything in the end, and only Might is Right" (52). Arthur's portrayal of Mr. P was unattractive. Instead of Mr. P. sharing his thoughts, he used his power to suppress anyone else's conflicting ideals and believed "might is right" as demonstrated with his condemning ethics.
