Arthurian Legends Synthesis Essay It is true that no matter what legend one is studying, the story is bound to change over time. When studying the various tellings of Morgan Le Fay, this proved to be true. Reading multiple stories of the character revealed many differing aspects to each tale. Specifically talking about her stories, the way they change is parallel to how the view of women has changed overtime. In works before 1900, Morgan Le Fay is portrayed as a simple being. Though she has some extraordinary aspects to her persona, the first thing mentioned is her looks. Repeatedly, she is identified as a beautiful girl, the most beautiful of all her sisters. In addition to this, overall the light in which she is portrayed is a sweet girl.
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In this period, Morgan’s persona did still include her sweet tendencies, but often, they spoke of her evil ones. If her more compassionate ones were mentioned, it was mostly spoken of as something in her past. Many of the times she is in a story, poem, etc., she is identified as the enchantress who deceived and misguided those who fell victim to her devilish charm. In “Merlin and Vivian: A Lyric Drama”, Ethel Watts Mumford describes Avalon as an “Enchanted Island” in which “[no] tempests [could] vex thy golden days, [and] /no bitter winds assail thy night” which is juxtaposed with the image of Morgan Le Fay which is dark and sinister next to the light image of the kingdom: “[s]he of the veiled, mysterious eyes, /She of the cold and courtly mien, /She of the skilled and subtle hand /That feeds the ring-doves as they preen” (Mumford). In addition to these depictions, her ability to lead knights to make bad decisions is pondered on in Madison Cawein’s “Morgan Le Fay” where her initial impression on them in compared to her final one. In the beginning, “…all he saw was her bright eyes, / And her fair face that held him still: / And wild and wan she led him on/ O'er vale and hill”. Later, her deceitful ways are exposed when she leads him to another group of
In this period, Morgan’s persona did still include her sweet tendencies, but often, they spoke of her evil ones. If her more compassionate ones were mentioned, it was mostly spoken of as something in her past. Many of the times she is in a story, poem, etc., she is identified as the enchantress who deceived and misguided those who fell victim to her devilish charm. In “Merlin and Vivian: A Lyric Drama”, Ethel Watts Mumford describes Avalon as an “Enchanted Island” in which “[no] tempests [could] vex thy golden days, [and] /no bitter winds assail thy night” which is juxtaposed with the image of Morgan Le Fay which is dark and sinister next to the light image of the kingdom: “[s]he of the veiled, mysterious eyes, /She of the cold and courtly mien, /She of the skilled and subtle hand /That feeds the ring-doves as they preen” (Mumford). In addition to these depictions, her ability to lead knights to make bad decisions is pondered on in Madison Cawein’s “Morgan Le Fay” where her initial impression on them in compared to her final one. In the beginning, “…all he saw was her bright eyes, / And her fair face that held him still: / And wild and wan she led him on/ O'er vale and hill”. Later, her deceitful ways are exposed when she leads him to another group of