King Arthur becomes the butt of Mark Twain's satire in "A Connecticut
             Yankee in King Arthur's Court." As Twain often does, his vision of life in
             King Arthur's court is quite different than the life that Thomas Mallory
             presents in "Le Morte D'Arthur." This paper will examine how Twain depicts
             King Arthur as an individual that comes across as nothing more than
             In contrast to Arthur's court, in "Le Morte D'Arthur," Hank sees a very
             different court life. Mallory's King Arthur is always seen with nobility
             and respect. On the other hand, Hank notices the stark contrast between
             classes. The king is presented as a man who revels in storytelling and
             apparently believes every story he is ever told. While the starving
             peasants wore tattered clothing, Arthur's Round Table was:
             as large as a circus ring; and around it sat a great company of men
             dressed in such various and splendid colors that it hurt one's eyes
             to look at them. They wore their plumed hats, right along, except
             that whenever one addressed himself directly to the king, he lifted
             his hat a trifle just as he was beginning his remark" (Twain 25).
             This scene leaves us with the impression that the aristocracy is arrogant
             and mindless of the ordinary citizens. Hank tells us that he "knew that
             the highest and first ladies and gentlemen in England had remained little
             or no cleaner in their talk, and in the morals and conduct which such talk
             implies, clear up to a hundred years ago" (34). Additionally, we learn
             that no one in the country can read except a "few dozen priests" (48). We
             can definitely see how the higher classes deprived the lower classes of
             many things that we consider absolutely essential for modern life.
             Interestingly, Hank likes the king regardless of his lack of refinery.
             He tells us, "Well, I liked the king, and as king I respected him--
             respected the office; at least r...