The Role Of Merlin In King Arthur’s Gaining Of Statesmanship
Le Morte d’Arthur is a legendary tale about the King Arthur and his Noble Knights of the Round Table. The whole tale is about Arthur the son of the King Uther Pendragon and fair lady Igraine. He was destined to be the future King. There are many other characters in the tale but the character named Merlin is an important character, he always doles out advice to both King Uther and King Arthur. We can see him as body other than the king involved in the statecraft or King making role so, let us see how was Merlin involved in the diplomacy and how he with his supernatural power (magic) assist Arthur to attain statesmanship? This paper explores what is Statecraft, it simply means the art of conducting public affair; and statesmanship is usually a politician or a diplomat or other public notable figure that has had a long and respected career at the national level. The purpose of this paper is to show the consideration of the third kind of political thought and does it received more attention than it deserved.
There are multiple evidences in the tale which shows the interference by Merlin in the internal affairs of the state and the government, he is one of the fascinating figures in Arthurian Legend. He is a man of mystery and magic, contradiction and controversy surrounded his life as he was a wizard, prophet, advisor and a tutor. Merlin basically disappears after the 4th chapter but he plays a crucial role during the early years of King Arthur. Merlin was active in Arthurs reign as a chief advisor, throughout the tale he has been supporting Arthur by his magic till the last until he is gone. At the last things got messy for King Arthur in the end when Merlin was not there to guide him. His prophecies seem to play a very important role in the development of the tale and the making of king. The tale comprises of many different elements but supernatural element is continuously used by Merlin as he was a wizard, and performed magic. As Merlin’s father was supposedly a devil but Merlin turn back on evil and turned to the power of virtue. He was half human was mysterious and unpredictable, he helped human race he could also change shapes. He is an important character in the story because he was an advisor and he was involved with both the Kings Uther and Arthur. He pushed them into right direction. It started with when Merlin enchanted Uther to look like the duke of Cornwall and helped him sleep with Igraine. “Merlin said I know all your heart every deal; ye will be sworn unto me as ye be a true king anointed to fulfil my desire, ye shall have your desire” and then “Merlin says this is my desire the first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on her, and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish there I will have it”. This was his first involvement in Arthur’s life, in which he directly says that he will nourish Uther’s child. Where King Uther for his Lust agrees with him and “The king says, for it was I myself that came in the likeness, and therefore dismay you not for I am the father of the child; and he told her all the cause, how it was by Merlin’s counsel”. So as promised by Uther after Arthur’s birth, it was Merlin who according to the condition, took care of Arthur’s nourishment.
When Arthur was born he was raised by sir Ector according to Merlin’s counselling and it was Merlin who informed the barons of Logres that only a person, who could draw the sword from the stone would be the rightful king, this was the second time that Merlin advocates and because of this move he was largely responsible for putting the crown on Arthur’s head. It was Merlin’s Statesmanship because of which his words received more attention and had more weightage. It was pre-planned by Merlin and when England needed a new king he installed Excalibur in the marble. Excalibur (the sword) is the legendary sword of King Arthur which was associated with his magical powers. It is described how sword was kept in marble stone and how it had golden words written on it – “whoso pullet out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England”. This was a part of Merlin’s King making role “rightwise king born of all England”. This was the magic spell used by Merlin to assure that Arthur be the king so, when Ten Knights prepared in advance for trial to pull the sword, but nobody was able to disturb or move the sword till Arthur pulled it out many times. It was his magical powers which gave additional support for Arthur, which helped only Arthur to pull the sword from the Marble.
After all this when Arthur was made the King, Merlin with his magical power came like a child of fourteen years, and try to tell him that “I know what thou art, and who was thy father, and begat thee on Igraine” but Arthur deny the facts thinking of him as an normal child but then when he again reappears in the shape of an old man and then he informs that “the child told you truth”. Merlin as an advisor was also support system for Arthur as after this Merlin goes to Arthur and tells him that he is the right wise king, the son of Uther Pendragon and commands him “fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, and spare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain; for ye shall overcome them all, whether they will or nill”. He was always encouraged by Merlin.
He did many prophecies like, he foretold a lot of events that had to do with the quest, he also foretold the treachery of Morgan Le Fay, foretold death of Balin, Pellinor, and Arthur foretold his own death. He also prophecies that Arthur will have a child with her half-sister “Morgan Le Fay” (Mordred the child will be the reason for the fall of his empire and death as well.) After this at first Merlin cast enchantment on King Pellinore that he fell to the earth in deep sleep to protect Arthur and says Pellinore will hereafter do your good service and “he shall tell you the name of your own son, begotten of your sister that shall be the destruction of this realm” this shows that he always hinted him even for small informations and also protected Arthur using his spells and wit. The next prophecy was that the child was to be born in May Day which would be the reason for the fall of his kingdom so all the new born on May day were sent upon pain of death and it included many lord’s sons and the whole realm was displeased, but Mordred was saved by a good man and was nourished by him till he was fourteen year old. This incident gave a negative impact on his realm because many lords lost their children in this incident.
When Arthur was in love with Guenever, Merlin also “warned the king covertly that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warned him that Launcelot should love her, and she him again” in this Merlin with the help of his prophecies warned Arthur about marrying Guenever but he does not takes his words this time and which was also a cause for his kingdoms fall. But because of this marriage he got the Round Table back as a gift from Leodegrance, he also contributed a lot in the creation of the Round Table. In this tale we can see that the story revolves around these elements, it shows that magic, prophecies that Merlin did was beneficial for King Arthur and he encouraged him by following his instructions or taking it into consideration, he knew that Merlin was a wizard and Merlin was a valuable source for him because he can see the future so he considered the words of Merlin. Merlin helped him get new sword from the lady of lake who had the true Excalibur, better than that because it would prevent him from bleeding from his wounds. He always tried to protect Arthur with his magical powers. He was the advisor, prophet and counsellor for the king so it can be said that if Merlin controlled all the events according to him it seems that he can predict and attempt to prevent, but final decision lies in Arthur’s hand, merlin always tried hinting at his knowledge.
If look into Merlin’s actions in the tale he continuously appears and disappears throughout the story till he dies, so we can see that though he gave advices to Arthur but was really not interested in the crown and the power or he shows extreme level of loyalty to the king, if we think about his powers than he could have easily turned the situation by using magic according to his favourable condition for being a king but he makes the use of magic to make prophecies only and to protect Arthur when Arthur in need to choose or take important decision. Magic can also be seen as a power it is been used in the tale thoroughly for good cause like building an empire and the bad cause like for taking revenge. If we think of this tale without Merlin and his magic and prophecies, it would not have been interesting, with its mysterious origin and supernatural elements. If we look into Merlin’s dedication towards the King Arthur then we can figure out a lot of things. He was an influential figure at that point of time because of his special powers not only Arthur but all other knights, Archbishop of Canterbury and many more characters assent with his thoughts and his statements. Everyone followed his orders and trusted him. In the beginning till his death he works for Arthur like a fairy god mother in every case and condition he gave him suggestions and helped him out with his power and wit. He always told all the prophecies, which was reflected in every actions of Arthur. He is an important counsellor he counselled decisions made by Arthur. If we think closely without Merlin Arthur would never been the king it was Merlin from the start who protected Arthur and nourished him to be the future king. In the whole tale we see him as helping hand for Arthur without any favours he shows loyalty towards the King and till the last he supports the king. His magical spell shapes the entire building of the crown with his supernatural abilities. It was his supernatural abilities which made him the important character which is responsible for many incidents in the tale.
Constant Advisor for knowledge and guidance, Malory uses him for foretelling the future in manner of fate, so what he prophesised will has to be fulfilled because of this many incidents from future were known and if Arthur would have avoided those he would have some different ending but after some point of time Arthur didn’t followed his instructions as in case of Arthur marrying Guenever, Merlin already hinted him that this marriage will not last and will be the cause fight between Arthur and Launcelot as Guenever will love Launcelot and he will love her back which will cause rebel among themselves and there will be fall of Round Table and from there the decline of his kingship started and after that merlin when Merlin fell for one of the ladies of lake and it was his end because he promised not to enchant any spell on her and she was benefited with this and she captured him in a cave and departed he leave his labour because all as in vain and after this his prophecies turned into reality. Merlin has been a prominent figure in the Arthurian legend most depicted character being portrayed in the tale as a representation of wit, power, loyalty and as a prophet who prophecies.
Does this answer my question of does Merlin helps King Arthur to gain statesmanship? Yes, because from beginning till the part where Merlin was there he counselled and helped Arthur, in an every single possible manner be it suggestions, support, defence or guide. He showed a level of loyalty and ensured his safety and progression. Arthur was successful in his battles because Merlin always foretold everything and Arthur came to know that his son which he begot from his half- sister can only kill him and nobody else would be able to kill him and because of this he killed every single child born on May day. After looking to all these incidents from the tale we get to know that Merlin is an essential figure which holds the development of the whole realm of King Arthur and his personal life, he is responsible for the making of king and as he was very trustworthy so it was easy for Arthur to believe in Merlin. With the help of his visions he gave perfect suggestions and advices to Arthur which led him acquire a successful empire through victory in battles.
