The knight in the rusty armor - published in 1993 by Robert Fisher - is a beautiful and short story that leaves a positive message to all readers. It speaks of knowing oneself and of going through many obstacles to achieve peace and happiness. To convey this message tells the skills of a knight obsessed with his armor and defeating his adversaries.
The central theme and its intention is to make us aware that in order to be happy and live the true life, we must know ourselves, not put on"armor"and not let others draw the path that we have to travel.
The knight in the rusty armor Is one of the books that I recommend for children, adolescents and adults. It is very easy to read, entertaining, sometimes funny and makes you reflect and learn. Perfect for reading on vacation or spending the afternoon leisurely.
I finished it in one afternoon and, even so, I remember a lot more than the others that took me months to finish them. It is not of the narrative quality of One Hundred Years of Solitude The Robinson Crusoe , But that's not your job I consider it pleasant and a good experience to read it.
At first glance it may seem like the typical book they recommend in schools, but nothing further from reality. It seeks to reflect and give some ethical teachings from an interesting story that is easy to read.
Surely, you will see yourself in this book. People have long been taught to have a woman / man, to build a family, and to work for material gain.
However, it seems that the fact that more than everything material and wanting to show the world how good you are is more important to be devoted to the family and to seek their well-being (more emotional than material).
What do you think of the book? What did you teach? How did you interpret it? You may also be interested This collection of self-help books .
Then I leave the sentences that I consider more outstanding followed by a small interpretation of what I believe they intend to teach.
Analysis and phrases of The knight in the rusty armor
1- The Knight's Dilemma
"Long ago, in a land far away, lived a gentleman who thought he was good and loving. He did everything good, generous and loving gentlemen do. He fought against enemies, killed dragons and rescued damsels in distress."
"Our knight was famous for his armor. It reflected light so bright that people in the village swore they had not seen the sun rise in the north or set in the east when the knight set out to battle."
The protagonist, a gentleman of the Middle Ages, develops an emotional, social and spiritual armor, and is so concerned with his functions as a gentleman that he forgets his family and to know himself.
This gentleman wears a armor so beautiful, and of which he feels so proud, he never takes it off. However, one day, after his wife begs him, he finds that he can not be taken away. This is when a long journey begins to find out how to eliminate it.
Although the gentleman thought he was good and kind, his actions did not just show such positive qualities. "A virtue that needs to be demonstrated is ultimately not a virtue."
Although he does not realize it, he has little self-esteem and does not love himself, since he always tries to compensate for his shortcomings with his constant crusades as a gentleman. It frees ladies and other people from enemies and evils, but fails to confront negativity in itself.
The armor
The armor symbolizes different aspects on a physical, psychological and emotional level. It represents everything superficial and false; Vanity, fame, prestige, pride... The brighter the armor, the more false his relationship with his family.
He loves his armor so much that he even sleeps with it to enjoy its brightness, that is, to protect himself from the image he has of himself, and in the end, he ends up not being able to take it away.
Only with sincerity, nobility and truth, will he be able to take off his armor and find his true self.
2- The Forest of Merlin
"As I rode alone through the woods, the knight realized that there were many things I did not know."
"You are very lucky. You are too weak to run... One person can not run and learn at the same time."- Merlin.
"Are you saying life is good when you accept it?"- Knight.
"You were not born with that armor. You put it on yourself. Have you asked yourself why?""Merlin.
"If you really were good, generous and loving, why did you have to prove it?"- Merlin.
The gentleman isolates himself to reflect and find himself.
Here begins to destroy his armor; When it ceases to give importance to things like the adventures and castles, that is to say, everything that constituted its previous identity.
Merlin the wizard
The magician represents the person who does not exist in his world. He knows the art of awakening consciousness. It teaches the gentleman that passions cloud reason and judgment, and that positive attitudes, such as collaboration, patience, kindness, courage and perseverance, enhance the journey of life.
The stop
There comes a moment of the trip in which the gentleman is very tired to go ahead. However, Merlin teaches you that a person can not run and also learn, so he must stay for a while in that place. It is when the gentleman begins to understand the value of going slower to reflect.
When a person is not able to slow down to think, the disease or negative consequences may appear.
The cup of Life
The knight was thirsty for life, since the armor had dried his existence. Emotional conflict blocked his body and his energy, clouded his judgment and hardened his heart.
The path of truth
"People do not usually perceive the path through which they travel."- Merlin.
"It is a different battle that you will have to fight on the Path of Truth. The struggle will be to learn to love you."- Merlin.
"You are beginning to see the differences in other forms of life because you are beginning to see the differences within you."- Rebecca.
In this part, the gentleman chooses the path that will lead him to his new life and self-knowledge and away from dishonesty, greed, hatred, jealousy, fear and ignorance.
The castle of silence
"We put up barriers to protect ourselves from who we think we are. Then one day we are trapped behind the barriers and we can not go out."- King.
In the castle of silence, he feels more alone than ever in his life. He has to confront his internal dialogue that has imprisoned his silence and for this he must experience solitude and silence for a while.
Silence ends with its false self and gives way to knowledge. In this way, the gentleman begins to realize things like wearing masks or that knowing silence requires more courage than any battle.
When his mind was in solitude, the perception of the world was more real and the illusory world of the ego disappeared, to give way to the real self.
The Castle of Knowledge
"You have discovered a great truth. You can only love others as you love yourself."- Merlin.
"You put armor between you and your true feelings. It has been there for so long that it has become visible and permanent."- Sam.
"But if a person is generous, loving, compassionate, intelligent and altruistic, how could he be richer? Only the ambition that comes from the heart can give you happiness."-Merlin.
The great darkness encountered by the knight symbolizes ignorance. The shadow represents everything you have forgotten or discarded about yourself.
The Castle of the Will and the Osadía
"The knowledge of oneself is the truth... the truth is more powerful than the sword".- Squirrel.
"Because you yourself made the fire real, you give it the power to burn your butt or anything else."- Squirrel.
The bridge that the knight must overcome represents the will, the daring to go forward or go back. The false"I"is represented with the dragon. He is unable to rescue his true self, a prisoner of his inner dragon. His true"I"or being was so imprisoned, that the knight did not know of its existence.
The victory over the dragon represents the rescue of qualities like will, courage, daring and self-knowledge.
The Top of the Truth
"Although this universe I possess, I possess nothing, for I can not know the unknown if I cling to the known."
"He accepted all responsibility for his life, for the influence that people had on her, and for the events that had shaped her."
The top represents the truth, the last phase of the purification process that will release you from the armor.
What do you think of the book? What did you teach it? How do you interpret it? Tell me, I'm interested!