Morgaine's Quickly Abandoned Emotional Composure Is Relatable

I really enjoyed watching Morgaine's inner monologue as she falls from the rules of a priestess, to the whims of her own emotion in the Mists of Avalon. It happens within a few pages, and yet the shift from "he [Lancelot] has not recognized me either, keep it so." (141) to "I want him [Lancelot] to think me beautiful-- myself, not the glamour!" (143) happens smoothly, and I enjoyed the way it humanizes Morgaine. Later still, when Gwenhwyfar appears and whisks Lancelot's attention and affections away from her she "felt a surge of hatred so great that she thought she would faint with its force." (158) How quickly and strongly she devolves from the rules set upon her reminds us as readers that she is still a human and still rather young. She bends to her wants over her duty in a way that is very familiar and reminiscent of a dramatic teenager. Though I doubt any modern readers have come across a situation that mirrors Morgaine's experience exactly as I believe the number of people asked if they're actually fae to be very small, at it's most simplified she throws a fit in her head and retreats into a cold persona after being embarrassed and rejected, and I'd say that's pretty relatable.

Lancelot's Purpose

In the Mists of Avalon Lancelot states, "maybe when I go back to the real world, the Saxons will all have been vanquished... and gone" Morgaine replies with "And you will weep because there is no longer any reason for your life?" (155). I thought this quote was interesting because it reduces Lancelot's sole purpose to fighting. Do you think that this reduction of Lancelot is accurate?

Magic of Avalon

"'The mist and the reeds and the cry of water birds...and then the barge, like magic, gliding from the silent shore...I know there is nothing for me here, and yet, somehow, I always return..'" (Bradley)

This quote stood out to me because I related it right to Lancelot and how he also seemed to have to soul purpose of being in Camelot, yet he always found himself there in our readings.

harp strings and swords

One quote that caught my eye was on page 147, when Morgaine is describing Lancelot's physical appearance. She says, "...his slender hands, exquisitely shaped, fashioned for harp strings or weapon, but calloused just a little across palm and the insides of the fingers, more on the right than the left." What caught my eye in this line, other than the fact that it told us Lancelot is right handed, was the dichotomy between "harp strings" and "weapon." Harps are typically seen as a gentle, angelic instrument whereas weapons are, so to speak, instruments of death, and seen as anything but gentle. It's clear that Lancelot is caught between two worlds here, and he is the one bringing them together simply by existing. Perhaps this use of the words "harp strings and weapon" was to further elaborate on this point, of two opposite things colliding and coming together through one person.

What's Going on Inside Morgaine's Head?

In "The Mists of Avalon," Morgaine is pretty much in love with Lancelot throughout the entire story. About halfway through the story Lancelot decides that he won't "trespass" and take her virginity and she fills with happiness for the first time since she was a child. First of all, what a life to live. Haven't been happy for the past couple YEARS?? Nice... Moving on to the actual question I'm getting at is how exactly does Morgaine go from being dizzy whenever Lancelot looks at her to "in that molten instant she actually longed for death" (Bradley, 158)? Not only does she long for death, but when walking with Lancelot and Guinivere she was also "tempted to lead them both into the impassable mire...lead them out there and lead them to drown or wander forever in the mists."(Bradley,158) That's pretty freaking dark. Now I get that apparently when Lancelot looks at Guinivere there's nothing but love in his eyes, in fact the love that he just showed Morgaine, but come on. How good is she at reading eye balls because I certainly don't see true love in anyone's eyes I look at (weird). I guess what I'm trying to ask here is just how Morgaine went from loving to Lancelot to wanting to kill both him and Guinivere. I get that they had a "deep and meaningful conversation" (they didn't), but not sure how the story ends with her leaving as a walking omen of death. 

She seems normal, so what happens?

In the Mists of Avalon Bradley wrote about Morgaine "She picked up his hand to return the gesture, and suddenly dropped it as if it had burned her; to him it was only a game, perhaps, but it could never be so to her. She turned away, hiding her burning face in the grass. Power from the earth seemed to flow up through her, filling her withe the strength of the very Goddess herself" (152).

I thought it was so interesting how Morgaine is portrayed as having human emotions like everyone else. I feel like in most stories Morgaine is described as being this all-powerful person who seems invincible. It was refreshing to see Morgaine be portrayed with more human emotions. It makes me wonder how she ends up the way she does.