Morgan Le Fay

Also known as Morgana, Morgaine, Moragana Le Fay etc. She's a really important figure in Arthurian Legend, and there are so many different aspects of her to talk about. I'll start by explaining why I like her so much.

She's misunderstood. If you look at it from her point of view, her Father was murdered, her Mother was raped and then forced to marry the rapist, her Mother's baby was stolen from her and then Morgan was married off to Uriens of Gore and promptly forgotten about. It's enough to break any woman, but Morgan didn't let it break her. She took matters into her own hands, she said to herself, "I will not allow myself to be bullied and pushed around simply because I'm a woman." And she stayed true to her word. How? Well, there are many different ideas as to the person she became.

Evil Morgana
This is the story you are probably most familiar with. Morgan does all in her power to hurt and even kill Arthur. She throws Excalibur's sheath away so that Arthur may not use it's magical powers, she has sex with him so that she may use the child to destroy him, she constantly tries to unveil Guinevere's adultery with Lancelot (which some people don't see as a bad thing.) etc.

Good Morgana
In the earliest tales, Morgan was a benevolent healer who aided Arthur and his knights, and was one of the maidens who helped to convey the King to his final resting place in Avalon. I personally prefer to believe this version, that although Morgan had so many bad things happen to her, she didn't allow it to darken her soul, but instead used this to help her mother's other son, and to become a powerful faery.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on Morgan Le Fay, and who they think she really was. I may do another post on her some time.

Elane of Astolat

For those of you who don't know who she is, Elaine of Astolat (sometimes referred to as 'lily maid' or 'the lady of shallot') was the daughter of Bernard of Astolat. Her father held a jousting tournament where Sir Lancelot was present. She becomes infatuated with the young knight and bestows him with her token. During the tournament he is fatally wounded and Elaine nurses him back to health. As she does this her infatuation grows to love and once Lancelot is healed she works up the courage to confess this love to him. He tells her that he cannot love her for he is in love with Guinevere but he offers Elaine some money to repay her for healing him. She refuses the money and instead brings Lancelot his shield. He leaves never to return and two days afterwards she dies of heartbreak and orders that her body be floated down the river on a barge to Camelot. In her lifeless hands she carries two things, a letter to her beloved Lancelot and a mass penny.

I think Elaine's story to be incredibly romantic and very sad too, but then again I cry very easily. In fact, I would go as far as to say Elaine is one of my favourite characters simply because I identify with her mourning for lost love. What about you? Do you think Elaine is a tragic heroine or simply a pathetic child?

My next post will be on Morgan Le Fay and whether she is good or evil.

Welcome to King Arthur's world

Hello I'm sydnisan and I love all to do with Arthurian legend. I will be posting as regularly as I can about many aspects of it from separate characters, to epic quests and insignificant myths. I'll just give you a bit of information about me first of all.
Favourite person from arthurian legend: Morgan Le Fey
Favourite story from AL: Tristan and Isolde
Least favourite character from AL: Agravaine
Least favourite story from AL: The quest for the holy grail (if that counts as a story)
Favourite all-time book: Lord Of The Rings trilogy
favourite movie: strangely enough my favourite movie is The Holy Grail (monty python obviously)

You should expect my first post tomorrow, I believe it will be about the Lady of Shallott.