A Marxist Analysis of the Legends of King Arthur

Myth touches on fundamental aspects of British society

Jun 07, 2025

In Volume 7, Number 6 (November/December 1982) of International, John Ross presents an article titled "Legends of King Arthur." Moving away from the more common political and economic analyses found in the journal, Ross undertakes a Marxist reading of the enduring myths surrounding King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. At that time, Ross was one of the central leaders of the Fourth International in Britain, then writing a book about the conservative party. He proposes that fairy tales are not merely fantastical stories or simple adventures but are significant literary works that offer profound insights into the social systems from which they arose and continue to resonate because they address fundamental aspects of human society.

John Ross begins by asserting the enduring influence and importance of fairy tales and literature. He positions the "Legends of King Arthur" specifically as a form of literature that has endured over long periods, suggesting they delve "deep into the heart of our social system." His explicit aim is to examine these legends using Marxist tools, viewing them not as abstract narratives but as reflections of the material and social conditions of the time they originated from and were developed.

Ross primarily focuses on the legends as products of feudalism, contrasting the society depicted in the myths with capitalism. He highlights key characteristics of the feudal social system as portrayed in the tales:

The fundamental relationship between knights and lords, where lords held the right to their own armed force.
The focus on land ownership and control, where property rights determined power.
The reliance on supply and demand for the necessities of life, such as food, as the basis of the system, with the power of figures like lords and kings being tied to this economic foundation.
The presence of a clear class structure within this feudal context.

Ross argues that the legends depict the nature of oppression prevalent within this feudal system. He contends that the "feudal elements" in the stories were "inextricably linked with the struggle against the foreign oppressor." Notably, Ross connects these historical themes to more contemporary struggles, suggesting the legends offer a perspective on "the historical struggle against British Imperialism in Ireland."

Beyond the historical and materialist analysis, Ross also incorporates a psychological dimension into his reading. He makes explicit reference to Freudian psychoanalysis as a tool for understanding themes like love and sexuality within the legends. However, he firmly ties these psychological aspects to the broader material base, stating that sexuality is a biological element that is nonetheless "inextricably linked" with the social position and the social division of labour in feudal society. He argues that these aspects of human relationships are ultimately connected to the "productive process" of the time. He uses the narrative of Lancelot and Guinevere's love as a central example, interpreting their relationship as a struggle against the oppressive nature of the Arthurian (feudal) system and its inherent constraints.

Ross also points out that the legends contain "specific national characteristics." He mentions the stories of Roland and El Cid as examples of how such narratives embed the unique conditions of their national origin.

He examines key narratives within the Arthurian cycle, noting the significance of the Round Table as a symbol of Arthur and his virtues, and the Quest for the Holy Grail. The Grail quest, in his view, represents an attempt to "restore something lost," linked to the idea of seeking redemption or restoration from the oppressive feudal system. Ross discusses the portrayal of feudal virtues like piety, chivalry, courage, and loyalty, framed as elements of struggle against oppression and foreign enemies, while emphasizing that these virtues are inherently tied to and shaped by the oppressive feudal system itself.

The enduring appeal of these legends, according to Ross, lies precisely in their ability to explore these complex dynamics of human relationships, power structures, and social struggle. He suggests that the myths endure because they reflect "essential elements of the past, present and to some extent future of capitalism," touching upon fundamental aspects of society and human experience across different epochs.

Ross frames his analysis within the broader project of applying socialist doctrines to understand society. He references James Connolly and the necessity of translating socialist doctrines into terms "understood by the Irish, in or out of Ireland," suggesting that understanding cultural texts requires relating them to specific national contexts and the experiences of the people. He also alludes to the challenge, highlighted by Karl Liebknecht, of advancing a programmatic slogan that has not yet been "tested" by a "mass movement," implicitly linking theoretical understanding of historical and social phenomena to the challenges of revolutionary practice.

In summary, John Ross's article uses the Arthurian legends as a case study to demonstrate the power of Marxist analysis in uncovering the social, material, and psychological underpinnings of cultural phenomena. By examining the legends through the lens of feudalism, class, oppression, specific national characteristics, and even psychoanalysis (linked to the material base), he argues that these ancient tales provide insights into the core dynamics of society and human struggle that remain relevant even in the capitalist era.

Connecting to Other Themes in International

Ross's analysis of the Arthurian legends, while focused on historical mythology, deeply engages with several core themes and methodologies prevalent throughout the issues of International.

Application of Marxist Analysis to Social Formations: Ross's central method is applying Marxist theory to understand a past social system (feudalism) through its cultural output (legends). This mirrors the journal's fundamental purpose: to use Marxist analysis to understand contemporary capitalist society, its crises, class struggles, and forms of oppression. Articles across various issues analyze British capitalism, imperialism, and the dynamics of the working class within these structures, all grounded in a historical materialist framework. Ross extends this method to a pre-capitalist era, demonstrating the breadth of the analytical tool.
Class Struggle and Oppression: The legends are interpreted through the lens of class and oppression. This is a constant, defining theme of International, which published extensively on class struggle in Britain, the oppression of specific groups like women and Black people, and national oppression, particularly in Ireland. Ross's identification of oppression and class dynamics within the Arthurian tales connects directly to these ongoing concerns of the journal.
The Role of Ideology and Culture: By analyzing literature (the legends) as a reflection of and influence on society, Ross engages with the Marxist concept of base and superstructure. While less frequent than economic or political analysis, International did show interest in culture, ideology, and the role of theory. The journal's focus on providing theoretical analysis itself highlights the belief that ideas and understanding are crucial to revolutionary practice. Ross's piece implicitly positions the study of cultural texts as part of this broader effort to understand and change the world.
Specific National Characteristics: Ross explicitly discusses "specific national characteristics" in the legends. This concept was subject to direct theoretical debate in earlier issues of International, particularly concerning revolutionary tactics in Europe. The journal's analysis of the Irish question frequently highlights the unique historical and national aspects of that struggle. Ross's use of this term and his reference to Connolly applying socialist doctrines to the specific Irish context directly echo these prior discussions within the journal.
The Relationship of Theory to Practice: Ross's reference to the Liebknecht example and Connolly's approach in Ireland implicitly links his analysis to the journal's core strategic theme: the necessity of translating theoretical understanding and a revolutionary program into effective action and the challenge of building a party capable of leading the struggle.

In Hindsight

Examining later issues of International provides insight into how far the specific Marxist tools and themes explored by John Ross in his Arthur article continued to be used or developed within the journal's pages.

The core Marxist tools Ross applied – historical materialism, class analysis, and the understanding of oppression within specific social formations – remained fundamental and consistently utilized throughout the life of International. For example, analyses of the British crisis in 1983 and 1984, articles on specific strikes and industrial struggles, and ongoing discussions of women's and Black liberation all relied on these tools. Their application to understand society and identify points of struggle remained the journal's bedrock.

The theme of "specific national characteristics," which Ross foregrounds in his analysis of the legends, also continued to be relevant, albeit perhaps less frequently debated as an abstract theoretical point compared to earlier issues. However, the analysis itself in later issues consistently focused on the specific national contexts of Britain, Ireland, and other countries. The necessity of applying general Marxist theory to concrete, specific national conditions, as argued by Connolly and referenced by Ross, remained implicit in the journal's content.

Ross's engagement with ideology, culture, and the relationship between theory and practice also aligns with the journal's sustained interests. International consistently reviewed books, including theoretical works, suggesting a continued interest in theory and its application. The importance of the revolutionary party as the necessary vehicle to connect theoretical understanding with mass struggle remained a central tenet of the International Marxist Group and was reiterated consistently, providing the underlying strategic context for Ross's more cultural analysis.

Ross's inclusion of Freudian psychoanalysis appears to be less central to the journal's general methodological approach. While the journal did explore the importance of understanding consciousness and "psychology" in the struggle, there is no indication in the provided sources that Freudian analysis became a widely adopted tool within the journal's standard Marxist framework in subsequent issues. Ross's specific application of this tool might be seen as a unique element of his particular analysis rather than a trend that was broadly continued.

In conclusion, John Ross's article on King Arthur used Marxist tools and explored themes that were consistently central to International's project: the application of Marxist analysis to understand society, the centrality of class and oppression, the role of ideology, the importance of specific national conditions, and the underlying necessity of the revolutionary party to link theory and practice. While his specific focus on mythology and his use of Freudian analysis might be distinctive to this piece, the analytical foundation aligns perfectly with the journal's ongoing concerns.

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