The Message of G.K. Chesterton's the Ballad of the White Horse

The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton is all about the King Alfred's battle with the Danes, but it is also described as an allegory, about the ongoing battle of good and evil - christianity and paganism.

The story begins with Alfred having a vision of our Lady. He asks her if he is going to win the war, but she replies that it is not important whether you win or lose, but what you are fighting for. She tells him that faith is the key and those with faith will "go gaily in the dark."

During the story Alfred disguises himself as a wandering minstrel and enters the Danish camp. There he learns about the Danish philosophy and way of life, which is "cold to tell" and makes the body look like "an empty shell."

Still in disguise, he ends up watching cakes for an old woman, but his mind ends up wondering about what this woman's purpose is, and he accidently lets the cakes burn. The woman, finding this, slaps him across the face, but he replies merrily, "he who is struck for an ill servant/Should be a kind lord." Alfred learns a lesson of humility here and it prepares him for the later battle.

These things help him learn about himself, help him grow in his faith as the story proceeds and in the end, even when he has died, the white horse still remains. The weeds, though, still have to be removed to keep the image there, but this is the greatest symbol of the ongoing battle of good and evil. You must keep fighting.