essay
this is my essay for smith. let me know what you think. make corrections.
In a world where computers are built into cell phones and horse power certainly does not mean pulled by horses, society reflects into the past. Stories of heroes have been around since people could communicate, but it was the hero’s of old that were very different. The Middle Ages spawned the chivalric hero which is so commonly found in today’s superhero. Every time a child watches the Power Rangers it is a doorway into the past that shows what it took to be a medieval hero.
“The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” was a television series that ran from 1993-1996. It was a show that almost all children in the 90’s grew up with. The Power Rangers displayed strength and great hand to hand combat ability. These qualities were not only important to the Power Rangers, but to King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. The knights would constantly joust to show their strength and protect their honor and did it in brightly colored uniforms just like the creators of the Power Rangers envisioned. When first given their powers, the Rangers were forbidden to use it for personal gain or just to start a fight. This is much like the Knights of the Round Table who did not fight anyone who was weaker than them. They also believed that murder was not just, so did the Power Rangers.
The Knights of the Round Table had many enemies. One common enemy that was close to their overall leader was Morgan Le Fay. She was King Arthur’s evil half sister that tried to kill him and make her lover the new king. She was a shape shifter and a witch. The Power Ranger’s main enemy was Rita Repulsa. Morgan Le Fay cased a spell on Sir Lancelot to bring him back to her castle and love her and Rita cased a spell on Tommy (who would later be the green ranger) to be evil and turn against the rest of the rangers. Both Tommy and Lancelot broke free of the spell and returned to their group becoming their leaders. Also, Morgan Le Fay also entraps Merlin King Arthur’s wizard in a cave forever. Rita entraps Zordon the wizard leader of the Power Rangers into a time warp.
Battling witches and following wizards is not all the Power Rangers did, they taught children team work, to be polite, to right wrongs, and to be loyal. These are all parts of the chivalric code as well. Alone the Power Rangers could not fight villains but together they could. When large villains came, they joined together to form the Megazord which was a giant robot that they all controlled a part of. When trouble came to Camelot, the knights joined Arthur at the round table to plot out their strategy. Respect was always a large part of a knight’s life. They had to respect King Arthur, respect the wishes of a lady, respect the enemy, and respect each other. Not in one episode can a Power Ranger be seen being disrespectful or hateful towards anyone.
Whoever said chivalry was dead was wrong. Chivalry was a guideline for the knights to follow to be a good person. It lives on in Le Morte D’ Arthur and it lives on in the Power Rangers. They are saving the art of being an honorable person while overcoming enemies and problems along the way. When looked at on the surface, the stories of the medieval knights and the Power Rangers appear violent and useless, but when opened up, they teach so much. Patience, respect, and team work is something any parent wants to teach their children whether they live in 1300 or 2000.
In a world where computers are built into cell phones and horse power certainly does not mean pulled by horses, society reflects into the past. Stories of heroes have been around since people could communicate, but it was the hero’s of old that were very different. The Middle Ages spawned the chivalric hero which is so commonly found in today’s superhero. Every time a child watches the Power Rangers it is a doorway into the past that shows what it took to be a medieval hero.
“The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” was a television series that ran from 1993-1996. It was a show that almost all children in the 90’s grew up with. The Power Rangers displayed strength and great hand to hand combat ability. These qualities were not only important to the Power Rangers, but to King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. The knights would constantly joust to show their strength and protect their honor and did it in brightly colored uniforms just like the creators of the Power Rangers envisioned. When first given their powers, the Rangers were forbidden to use it for personal gain or just to start a fight. This is much like the Knights of the Round Table who did not fight anyone who was weaker than them. They also believed that murder was not just, so did the Power Rangers.
The Knights of the Round Table had many enemies. One common enemy that was close to their overall leader was Morgan Le Fay. She was King Arthur’s evil half sister that tried to kill him and make her lover the new king. She was a shape shifter and a witch. The Power Ranger’s main enemy was Rita Repulsa. Morgan Le Fay cased a spell on Sir Lancelot to bring him back to her castle and love her and Rita cased a spell on Tommy (who would later be the green ranger) to be evil and turn against the rest of the rangers. Both Tommy and Lancelot broke free of the spell and returned to their group becoming their leaders. Also, Morgan Le Fay also entraps Merlin King Arthur’s wizard in a cave forever. Rita entraps Zordon the wizard leader of the Power Rangers into a time warp.
Battling witches and following wizards is not all the Power Rangers did, they taught children team work, to be polite, to right wrongs, and to be loyal. These are all parts of the chivalric code as well. Alone the Power Rangers could not fight villains but together they could. When large villains came, they joined together to form the Megazord which was a giant robot that they all controlled a part of. When trouble came to Camelot, the knights joined Arthur at the round table to plot out their strategy. Respect was always a large part of a knight’s life. They had to respect King Arthur, respect the wishes of a lady, respect the enemy, and respect each other. Not in one episode can a Power Ranger be seen being disrespectful or hateful towards anyone.
Whoever said chivalry was dead was wrong. Chivalry was a guideline for the knights to follow to be a good person. It lives on in Le Morte D’ Arthur and it lives on in the Power Rangers. They are saving the art of being an honorable person while overcoming enemies and problems along the way. When looked at on the surface, the stories of the medieval knights and the Power Rangers appear violent and useless, but when opened up, they teach so much. Patience, respect, and team work is something any parent wants to teach their children whether they live in 1300 or 2000.