“’Tis But a Scratch”

by | Jul 2, 2024 | Articles

“For I consider the sufferings of this present time as unworthy of comparison to the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). There is a scene in the classic comedy “Monte Python and the Holy Grail” where the Black Knight must prevent anyone from crossing a certain bridge by engaging them in battle.  Unfortunately, this is the very bridge that King Arthur must cross to continue in his quest for the Holy Grail.  The sword fight begins, and it’s soon clear that the Knight is outmatched as he loses an arm to a mighty blow from the king.  The Knight, however, is unfazed, and continues the fight.  The king expresses amazement to the Knight, telling him he’s lost, he’s missing an arm.  The Knight responds to the king with the now timeless words, “’Tis but a scratch.” King Arthur reluctantly continues the fight, systematically dismembering the knight.  With each lost limb, the knight responds with another dismissive phrase.  This scene of absurdist British comedy is seen from the perspective of King Arthur:  this foolish knight was delusional to keep fighting.  The viewer’s perspective show’s further pointlessness in this battle.  The “bridge” is little more than a wooden plank over a rivulet of water around a foot wide and an inch or so deep.  King Arthur could have easily avoided the confrontation, simply bypassing the knight’s bridge, going a little way up or downstream, and stepping over the water. From Arthur’s perspective, the knight was absurd.  From the viewer’s perspective, both men were absurd; the battle was unnecessary.  From Monty Python’s perspective, the absurdity was the point. ...