Since I mentioned in my last blog the Arthurian link to fairies, and since the Arthurian legend is such an enormous part of English supernatural lore, I think it fitting to elaborate upon the key fae creature of those stories: that is, Morgan le Fay.Morgan's name gives an interesting perspective on her character. "Morgan" is, in Celtic terms, a man's name, with "Morgaine" the female equivalent. Additionally, in Celtic mythology, the Morrigan was a triple goddess of death, who flew shrieking over battlefields to claim the heads of slaughtered soldiers. Her name, then, represents power to the point of masculinity. ("Morgan Le Fay" http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about-arthur-8.php)
"Le Fay," of course, refers to her fairy origins, though depending on which version of the story we use, the exact nature of this label changes. Some suggest that she was a fairy turned into a woman who became a sorceress in order to retain her powers. In early texts, Morgan was the chief of nine magical sisters who dwelt in Avalon, and had the abilities to shapeshift and fly with wings. At times she is portrayed as malignant towards Arthur, and she is the mother of Mordred who slays him, but she is never utterly wicked. She is beautiful, seductive, and a healer, and she is usually reconciled with Arthur in the end. In fact, she is traditionally one of three women who carry Arthur to Avalon to be healed.
Morgan is a good representative of the ambiguity of the pre-Shakespearean fairy. She is neither good nor evil. Her role alternates between friend and foe. It is not even clear at what point she ceases to be human and becomes fae, or vice versa. She embodies both us and them.
Speaking of "them," it is worth noting the feminine empowerment of fairy culture. Morgan is a powerful character in the Arthurian legend, in both name and legacy. She is usually unhappily married to a man Uriens, yet this does not stop her from taking lovers, orchestrating plots, and living her own life. (How many of us remember Uriens, after all? But everyone has heard of Morgan.) In the fairy realm, the female rules. If Avalon has rulers, they are women, just as the fairy queen is a far more popular folkloric figure than the fairy king.
Again we see fairies uniting separate parts. They are equalizers.
(Picture courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Morganlfay.jpg.)
1 comment:
:)
As I was looking at the different blog names on the side, I saw Morgan and I was thought "I wonder if it was Morgan le Fay". I clicked the name and a huge smile came on my face. I did not even think about Morgan le Fay in this class at all. I should have because she was such a fixture in our Arthurian Legends class. I can not believe I didn't not think of her. I especially loved her in Mists of Avalon.
Maybe I'm wrong but as I look back to the Mists of Avalon, though she was called a faerie I always considered her more of witch. Even though she was tiny, I considered her a witch because I never thought that faeries had so much power.
Other than that, I really like how you look into her name and how it fit Morgan le Fay well. Also, I love how you included how powerful women were in Arthurian legends. Women do rule.
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