Retro Review: The Sword in the Stone

BY JOHN CARTER JR

1963 was a year filled with great historical moments. The death of United States president John F Kennedy, the space race making new milestones as Russia put the first woman in space, and a burst of Beatlemania. At the tail-end of that historically important year, audiences were introduced to a wart, a wizard, and a whining old owl. Released on December 12th in London and on Christmas day in the United States, The Sword in The Stone directed by Wolfgang Reitherman delivered audiences a story about the importance of learning, the human relationships students make with their teachers, and the expectations others have for us. In the film’s prologue, viewers learn that after the most recent king of England’s death, a sword appeared in an anvil in stone with an inscription that states:

“Who so pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of England.”

The film goes on to center around an orphan boy named Arthur, who is begrudgingly called Wart by nearly everyone. One day Arthur is looking in a forest for a lost arrow when he stumbles upon the house of an old wizard, Merlin, and his owl friend Archimedes. Through what Arthur might see as a chance encounter, the young wart begins a journey of learning and discovery with his new friends. Throughout his journey, Arthur struggles with his original desire to be a squire and Merlin’s aspirations for him serve as the main driving forces behind the film.

From the very start of their time together, Merlin tells Arthur that he believes he is special, and Merlin believes it wholeheartedly. This, at its core, is why the importance of learning is such a foundational message of the film. It never occurred to Arthur that he could be more than just a squire. The acquisition of knowledge is important, but even the act of attempting to acquire it is an empowering one. It can be defiant, eye-opening, and rewarding to seek knowledge. While Merlin’s perception of Arthur’s future seems to be preordained, the film simultaneously suggests, that knowledge, paths and possibilities make themselves apparent to you. 

Merlin equates Arthur’s aspirations for being a squire with rubbish. However, both of these sides of Arthur are part of him. When rebuked by Merlin and his foster parent, Sir Ector, the young boy cries. This presents the audience and Arthur with the idea that while knowledge can be liberating, the multitude of paths it presents can be daunting. 

The relationships we develop with our teachers and mentors throughout our lives can be some of the most impressionable and important, especially during time of development. Arthur has a few mentor figures to look up to in this film, including Merlin and Sir Ector, but also Archimedes the owl. It’s actually Archimedes who shows the best demonstration of what a good guiding force and teacher is to Arthur. 

Archimedes seems to have an eclectic view of Arthur’s situation. While being slow to warm up to Arthur, the old owl takes him under his wings literally. Not only does he stress the importance of reading, saves his life more than once, and teaches him how to write and even fly, but he also congratulates him when he becomes a squire. 

This presentation of the relationships we can have with our teachers represents how defining an adult figure can be to a kid. Especially one with no parents. While Sir Ector and even Merlin impose their ideas of what Arthur should be, the owl is the one who is happy Arthur takes his lessons to achieve his own goals. This is not to say that his other mentors are not positive. In fact, it should be argued that each of their perspectives and influence on Arthur is integral in his development. This is true of people throughout their life journey; everything we learn and the people who teach us those things affect who we are.  

What this film can teach teachers and mentors is that while there might be hopes, expectations, and even dreams for your students, all you can do is give them your best with the hope that they will make the right decisions. Merlin gives Arthur a plethora of valuable lessons throughout the film, even battling in a wizard’s duel to demonstrate how he uses his brain to get out of dire situations and to protect Arthur. 

Merlin’s frustration reaches its peak after finding out that Arthur still intends on being a squire. No person can or should attempt to impose their vision of your life onto you. While in the end, he gained the respect of both Merlin and the knights by becoming the king, the lesson here is that while they may have their best intentions, no one knows what is right for us except ourselves. 

The Sword in The Stone is a Disney classic. Its lessons on learning, our relationship with mentors, and the expectations others have for us are colorfully conveyed. Characters like Merlin, Sir Ector, and Archimedes convey these lessons to the audience through their dynamic with the main protagonist. It is an excellent telling of the King Arthur story for children and parents to enjoy together. At the end of it all, however, it is a reminder that the acquisition of knowledge is important in liberating ourselves from expectations and assumptions; without it, we are no better off than a sword stuck in a stone stuck and unmoving.