Arthurian Synthesis: Merlin

Arthurian Legend Synthesis: Merlin As time continues, literature evolves with the social circumstances that occur during each time period. Events influence writers to focus on contemporary issues, and writers use these controversial ideas within their texts in order to portray certain opinions and persuade the audience. As time passes, the story of Merlin shifts from a tragedy to a realistic portrayal of love within modern culture. Merlin, originally introduced in Le Morte D’Arthur as a protagonist wizard who finds deceit from love, develops as a character from the Middle Ages to the modernist time period in “To Nimue” as a man who chooses love over everything, regardless of Nimue’s inevitable betrayal. Because of the perception of women

Nimue, the woman who causes the downfall of Merlin, hears about the arrival of a powerful wizard. As time progresses, Merlin falls deeply in love with her; Malory implies Merlin’s strong love for Nimue by writing, “But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would be with her” (Malory 102). Within this version of text, Merlin becomes lovestruck with Nimue to the point of willingly relinquishing his powers in order to keep Nimue happy. However, Merlin’s hard work falls short of Nimue’s expectations, and she continually fears for her life because of his magical powers. Because of her paranoia, Nimue “was ever passing weary of him . . . for she was afeard of him because he was a devil’s son” (Malory 103). The perception of women during the Middle Ages influences Malory’s writing as he develops

Wilfrid Scawen Blunt’s poem, “To Nimue,” writes through the perspective of Merlin toward Nimue. Although Merlin recognizes beforehand that Nimue will betray him, writing, “And I shall not be fooled by her, though her face is as fair as a rose” (Blunt 31), he understands the consequences behind his decisions. Within Blunt’s version, Merlin develops into a wizard who predicts the future, yet decides to accept his fate. Despite foreseeing the betrayal of Nimue, Merlin chooses love over everything. From Merlin’s perspective, Blunt writes, “And I shall not live without love, though the world should forget my songs and I forget its woes” (Blunt 32). Although Blunt’s version disregards the detail that Merlin becomes entrapped within a cave, he alludes to this detail by explaining how the world will forget Merlin when he’s gone and Merlin will forget it in return. Blunt focuses on the aspects of Merlin where he decides to love Nimue despite her inevitable betrayal. During 1914, World War 1 influenced writers to write about realistic ideas; however, with the despair brought on by the war, audiences needed a reprieve from the onslaught of negativity. Writers recognized that, although the world remains filled with vices and evil, love can always be found. These ideas