In looking at the poem “Morgan le Fay” by Madison J. Cawein and the play “Merlin and Vivian: A Lyric Drama” by Ethel Mumford and Henry Hadley they can be used to compare the similar characteristics and qualities that the character Morgan le Fay contains throughout each version of her story. Morgan le Fay is shown to be mysterious, evil, and charismatic in both the play and the poem. There are some differences in how each literary work developed the character. In the play, Morgan le Fay is seen to be a higher evil power and did not actually play an active part in the events that occur but she does incite the actions of the people who actually carry out the evil. In the poem she is the one actually participating in her own plans instead of getting another to accomplish them for her. Also in the poem her presence is more mysterious and charismatic than evil like the play. One reason for the romanticising of her characteristics is the use of poetry instead of a play or a narrative. In the poem much more comparison and description of her character is described by use of literary devices such as metaphors and personification. In the play the description comes from the dialogue and her interaction with other characters. …show more content…
With the play the author chose not to show much of Morgan le Fay throughout the entire work but in the beginning the author showed how her followers are loyal and she utilizes power over them to achieve her goals. This description of her is common in most of the stories that Morgan le Fay is a part of. The complete focus on Morgan le Fay with a story or a poem is rare and gives a special view of the character that most authors do not