Le Morte D'Arthur Characters Analysis
Uther Pendragon - King Uther Pendragon is the father of King Arthur. Uther becomes obsessed with the beauty of his rival's wife, Igraine. He attempts to take her by force, but the Duke of Cornwall mounts a formidable opposition against Uther. In the end, Uther elicits the help of the wizard Merlin, who agrees to help Uther under the condition that he would give up the child from his union with Igraine.
Igraine - The wife of the Duke of Cornwall, and later the Queen of England as the wife of King Uther Pendragon. She resists the lecherous advances of Uther, but he eventually fools her by pretending to be her husband through Merlin's actions. Arthur is raised away from his mother, but he eventually reconciles with her after Merlin tells him that he has sinned incest.
Merlin - The great wizard who brings about the birth of Arthur Pendragon, and then clears his path to be one of the greatest Kings ever. Merlin is of the utmost help to Arthur in the first few years of his ascension due to his magical abilities especially his insight into the future. Merlin becomes the source of Excalibur, the magical sword of King Arthur that becomes a great mark of his power. However, Merlin falls in love with Minue, the lady of the lake, who eventually tires of him and thus leaves him entrapped in an enchanted cave.
Arthur - He rises to become one of the most powerful kings of England as he unifies the realm, and marches into Europe to defeat the Roman Emperor, Lucius. Arthur is raised by Sir Ector as his son, along with his real son, Sir Kay. Arthur suddenly finds himself declared to be the king of England as he accidentally pulls out Excalibur from the stone. Arthur grows into the title of king quickly as he begins to lead his armies against the neighboring kings who believe that he is too young or too naive to be crowned king. He goes on to establish the order of the Knights of the Round Table, which is an order of knights who take an oath to live by chivalry and Honor.
Margawse - She is Arthur's half-sister and the wife of King Lot when Arthur first encounters her. King Lot happens to be one of the first kings who leads an alliance against Arthur. King Arthur sleeps with his wife when he first encounters her since they are both unaware of their relationship. Margawse has five sons, all of whom rise to the order of the Knights of the round table. She is the mother of Gawaine, Gaheris, Gareth, Agravain, and Mordred.
Mordred - The illegitimate son of Queen Margawse and King Arthur, who unknowingly sleeps with his half-sister. Merlin predicts that Mordred would one day be the cause of Arthur's death, and so they attempt to kill all the children born in the month of Mordred's birth. However, Mordred survives the plot and grows up to be a knight in King Arthur's court without ever realizing that Mordred is the child of Merlin's prophecy of his death. Mordred is responsible for causing the civil war between Launcelot, and King Arthur. Finally, when King Arthur is away fighting Launcelot, Mordred usurps and seizes the throne for himself. Arthur returns to face him, but Mordred wounds him quite severely just before Arthur kills him.
Guenever - The Daughter of King Londegrance, who marries King Arthur. However, she soon falls in love with Launcelot and has a secret love affair with the knight for several years right beneath Arthur's nose. In the end, Guenever blames herself for Arthur's demise and the reduced state of England that accompanies the civil war that takes place between King Arthur and Launcelot.
Launcelot - He is the Son of King Ban of Benwick and his wife Elaine. Merlin visits his parents when Launcelot is a young man and predicts the rise of Launcelot as a great warrior. He serves King Arthur with honor and love but ultimately betrays him as he falls in love with Queen Guenever. He remains loyal to her and refuses to ever take another lover or a wife. Launcelot is famed throughout the land as one of the greatest knights, a reputation he earns by performing an endless number of quests and adventures.
