http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/12/04/destiny-and-fate-so-late/ The Lives and Deaths of King Arthur Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:30:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/12/04/destiny-and-fate-so-late/comment-page-1/#comment-118 koricature Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:41:48 +0000 http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/12/04/destiny-and-fate-so-late/#comment-118 Those are some really good points. The only place I can remember fate playing such a large part of the Arthurian story would probably be in White. Towards the end of the "Sword in the Stone," Merlin gives many hints that young Arthur will not be the squire he is 'destined' to be. The explain Merlin's foresight as him actually living backwards; i.e., he is sad when Arthur meets him for the first time since for Merlin it will be the last time. Later in the story, when Arthur starts to get into trouble and needs Merlin, Merlin seems less wise and is more interested with running of with Vivian. Thus he is not there to help Arthur when he really needs it. Merlin also was very forgetful, and mentions something obscure about keeping an eye on his wife and friends. This makes it seem like the whole fall of the kingdom was all a colossal mistake by a forgetful (and thus absent) Merlin. Merlin doesn't remember until later in his life (earlier in Arthur's), and by then it is too late (early?) to do anything about it. I guess this is more mistake and coincidence than fate, but it's the closest thing I can find. As to why Uther and Igraine was the perfect match, this is where the story element comes in, at least in my opinion. If we go by White, then Merlin knew what was coming and arranged that it be so. In a literary sense, I think much of it was just about chivalry and morals; God will create the situation that will bring back the benevolence in the world, and we should strive to meet this standard of before. Historically, the odd stories of Arthur’s conception mixed with the promise of a future return together have great nationalistic significance. He will come back when his people most need it, as it is fated to be. Those are some really good points. The only place I can remember fate playing such a large part of the Arthurian story would probably be in White. Towards the end of the “Sword in the Stone,” Merlin gives many hints that young Arthur will not be the squire he is ‘destined’ to be. The explain Merlin’s foresight as him actually living backwards; i.e., he is sad when Arthur meets him for the first time since for Merlin it will be the last time. Later in the story, when Arthur starts to get into trouble and needs Merlin, Merlin seems less wise and is more interested with running of with Vivian. Thus he is not there to help Arthur when he really needs it. Merlin also was very forgetful, and mentions something obscure about keeping an eye on his wife and friends. This makes it seem like the whole fall of the kingdom was all a colossal mistake by a forgetful (and thus absent) Merlin. Merlin doesn’t remember until later in his life (earlier in Arthur’s), and by then it is too late (early?) to do anything about it. I guess this is more mistake and coincidence than fate, but it’s the closest thing I can find. As to why Uther and Igraine was the perfect match, this is where the story element comes in, at least in my opinion. If we go by White, then Merlin knew what was coming and arranged that it be so. In a literary sense, I think much of it was just about chivalry and morals; God will create the situation that will bring back the benevolence in the world, and we should strive to meet this standard of before. Historically, the odd stories of Arthur’s conception mixed with the promise of a future return together have great nationalistic significance. He will come back when his people most need it, as it is fated to be.

]]>