Mordred And Le Morte Darthur: A Literary Analysis

Mordred, almost since his inception as an Arthurian character, he has been synonymous with such terms as treachery. While it is not the first actual mention of him, Mordred’s first full comprehensive account is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain. Along with Monmouth’s portrayal of him, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur carries a comparable weight of magnitude regarding Mordred and his treacherous ways. These two works of literature are chronologically separated by centuries, so differences in how Mordred is presented are to be expected. However, that does not mean that they are without similarities. Additionally, his actions in both works greatly affect the way readers would perceive King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Mordred’s …show more content…
King Arthur fails completely to exhibit the good kingship for which he becomes famous. The way Malory continues building Mordred’s character is that he brings out the darker sides of King Arthur. One morbid instance is when Arthur essentially commits mass infanticide, when Arthur was foretold by Merlin that Mordred, who was born on Mayday, would kill his father. As Malory states, “Arthur let send for all the children born on Mayday, begotten of lords and ladies” (Malory 31) and “all were put in a ship to the sea” (Malory 31). Violent actions such as this could most certainly have been unpopular with the people of Camelot, especially those directly affected by it: parents whose children were taken to die of drowning, thirst, or exposure, who end up dying for nothing. Arthur’s failed attempt to have Mordred killed due to Merlin’s prophecy causes him the safety and honor from the threat his son presents to him. The danger lives on due to Mordred’s survival. Another aspect that is interesting about Arthur’s character in Le Morte Darthur, is that while he takes Merlin’s word to heart, regarding his prophecy about Mordred, when Merlin warns Arthur