Thematic underpinnings in T.H. White’s The Once and Future King Concepts of Pacifism Thematic underpinnings in T.H. White’s The Once and Future King

Definition The theory that peaceful rather than violent relations should govern human interaction Peace is intrinsically good and should be upheld as more conducive to human welfare than violence or use of force

T.H. White and Pacifism As a pacifist, T.H. White sought to blend his philosophy with Arthurian legend After reading Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, he felt that the work was “seeking an antidote to war” and saw it as a good vehicle for his theme Merlyn the magician often serves as the voice of White in The Once and Future King

Related Ideas The destructiveness of modern warfare fails to resolve conflicts Avoidance of war best serves the interests of humanity and the human race Only peace can preserve peace and break the chain of violence

Models of Pacifism Nonviolent techniques can prevent the outbreak of violence and move society toward pure justice Examples: Mohandas Gandhi influenced the British withdrawal from India; Martin Luther King, Jr. acquired civil rights for African-Americans

Concept 1: Killing In general, pacifists cannot condone killing Their beliefs emphasize the sanctity of human life Question: should all forms of killing be prohibited?

Concept 2: Violence and the Use of Force The ability to reason is humankind’s most important faculty Reason should triumph over emotion Force should not be used to restrict the individual’s movement in society Question: Is the use of force ever justifiable?

Concept 3: Innocents War, violence, force, or restraint should not harm the innocent Should innocents be subjected to violence to preserve the overall peace?

The Goal of Nonviolent Conflict Nonviolent techniques can prevent the outbreak of violence and move society toward pure justice

Nonviolent Conflict disruptive actions used by a popular movement struggling for rights or justice to mobilize and intensify civilian participation direct intervention targets economic disruption to frustrate a regime's capacity to subjugate people

Methods of Passive Resistance strikes boycotts petitions parades walkouts hunger strikes demonstrations resignations civil disobedience sit-ins blockades

Some History of Nonviolent Conflict Mohandas Gandhi: ended British imperialist occupation of India Danish resistance: thwarted the Nazis in World War II Martin Luther King, Jr.: segregation in the US in the 1960s Lech Walesa: Polish Solidarity in communist Poland Filipino and Chilean resistance: brought down dictators in the 1980's South African resistance: forced negotiations on apartheid Serbian resistance: ousted Slobodan Milosevic

20th-21st Century Nonviolent Movements Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi against dictatorship in Burma/Myanmar Oppositional movement against the authoritarian president of Zimbabwe Resistance against Chinese occupation of Tibet Falun Gong continues against the government in Beijing, China Democratic opposition groups in Belarus, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics