Lancelot was not a character in the early Arthurian tales, so it may be that he was a fictional character created to provide a lover for Guenevere. The story of Tristan and Iseult preceded that of Lancelot and Guinevere. The love triangles and affairs in the story show the complexity of life. Arthur is a good man but his night with Morgause led to the birth of Medraut, who caused the end of the Round Table and Camelot. Guinevere and Lancelot are good people who love Arthur but their affair is another factor in destroying the unity of Camelot.
The story of the Arthurian epoch was written by Thomas Malory in the 16th century, portraying the Dark Ages leader as a medieval king with Knights and ladies. In the 19th Century, there was a revival of interest in Arthurian matters, which was seen as the story which gave meaning to the nation of Great Britain. Tennyson wrote a series of poems The Idylls of the King which gave a highly romantic and religious take on the stories. Other poets and the Pre Raphaelite painters used the legends as materials for their work. Over the centuries, more realistic stories of Arthur have been written, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries.
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