Morgan le Fay (mythology) (2024)

Morgan le Fay (alternatively known as Morgan le Faye, Morgane, Morgaine, Morgana and other names), is a powerful sorceress and a treacherous foe in the Arthurian legends. Her character is seldom elaborated beyond her role as a fay (fairy) or magician in earlier works where she is featured. She became much more prominent in the later cyclical prose works such as the Lancelot-Grail and the Post-Vulgate Cycle, in which she becomes an enemy to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.

She is said to be the daughter of Arthur's mother, the Lady Igraine, and her first husband, Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, so that Arthur (son of Igraine and Uther Pendragon) is her half-brother. She also often seen as Merlin's former student and archenemy, and sometimes his ally.

The early accounts of Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gerald of Wales refer to Morgan in conjunction with the Isle of Apples (later Avalon) to which the fatally wounded Arthur was carried. To the former, she was an enchantress, one of nine sisters; to the latter, she was the ruler and patroness of an area near Glastonbury and a close blood-relation of King Arthur. In the early romances of Chrétien de Troyes, also, she figures as a healer.

However, in later stories, she becomes an adversary of the Round Table when Guinevere discovers her adultery with one of her husband's knights, she eventually reconciles with her brother and even retains her original role, serving as one of the 4 enchantresses who carry him to Avalon after his final battle at Camlann. She has at least two elder sisters, Elaine and Morgause, the latter of whom is the mother of King Arthur's nephew Gawain and the traitor Mordred. In Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and elsewhere, she is married, unhappily, to King Urien of Gore and Ywain is her son.

Contents

  • 1 Origins
  • 2 Later medieval literature
  • 3 Later interpretations
  • 4 Morgan le Fay In folklore
  • 5 Navigation

Origins[]

As her epithet "le Fay" (from the French la fée, meaning fairy) indicates, the figure of Morgan appears to have been originally a supernatural being. Her main name could be connected to the myths of Morgens, or Morgans or Mari-Morgans, which are Welsh and Breton water spirits. While later works make her specifically human, she retains her magical powers.

Inspiration for her character came from earlier Welsh mythology and literature; she has often been compared with the goddess Modron, a figure derived from the continental Dea Matrona and featured with some frequency in medieval Welsh literature. Modron appears in Welsh Triad 70, in which her children by Urien, Owain and Morfydd, are called the "Three Blessed Womb-Burdens of the Island of Britain", and a later folktale preserved in Peniarth MS 147 records the story behind these conceptions more fully.

Urien is Morgan le Fay's husband in the continental romances, while Owain mab Urien is the historical figure behind their son Ywain. Additionally, Modron is called "daughter of Avallach," a Welsh ancestor deity whose name can also be interpreted as a noun meaning "a place of apples". In fact, in the story of Owain and Morvydd's conception in Peniarth 147, Modron is called the "daughter of the king of Avallach." This is similar to Avalon, the "Isle of Apples" with which Morgan le Fay has been associated since her earliest appearances. Additional speculation sometimes connects Morgan with the Irish goddess Morrígan, though there are few similarities between the two beyond the spelling of their names.

Morgan first appears by name in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, written about 1150. Purportedly an account of the wizard Merlin's later adventures, it elaborates some episodes from Geoffrey's more famous earlier work, Historia Regum Britanniae. In the Historia, Geoffrey explains that, after Arthur is seriously wounded at the Battle of Camlann, he is taken off to Avalon, the Isle of Apples, to be healed. In the Vita Merlini, he describes this island in more detail and names "Morgen" as the chief of nine magical sisters who dwell there. Morgan retains this role as Arthur's other-worldly healer in much later literature.

Morgan le Fay (mythology) (1)

Before the cyclical Old French romances, appearances of Morgan are few. Chrétien de Troyes mentions her in his first romance Erec and Enide, completed around 1170; he says one guest at the titular characters' wedding, a certain Guigomar, Lord of the Isle of Avalon, is a friend of Morgan. She is later mentioned in the same poem when Arthur provides a wounded Erec with a healing balm made by his sister Morgan; this episode both affirms her early role as a healer and provides the first mention of Morgan as Arthur's sister. Chrétien again refers to Morgan as a great healer in his later romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, in an episode in which two ladies restore the maddened hero to his senses with a concoction provided by Morgan. However, while Modron is the mother of Owain in Welsh literature, and Morgan would be assigned this role in later French literature, this first continental association between Ywain and Morgan does not imply they are son and mother. The Arthurian tale, Geraint son of Erbin, based on Chretien de Troyes's Erec, mentions King Arthur's "chief physician", Morgan Tud; it is believed that this character, though considered a male in Gereint, may be derived from Morgan le Fay (though this has been a matter of debate among Arthurian scholars since the 19th century. The epithet Tud may be a Welsh or Breton cognate or borrowing of Old Irish tuath, "north, left, sinister, wicked", also "fairy, elf").

Later medieval literature[]

Morgan's role is greatly expanded in the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail (Vulgate Cycle) and the subsequent works inspired by it. The youngest of Gorlois and Igraine's daughters, she is sent to a convent when Uther Pendragon kills her father and marries her mother. There she begins her study of magic, but is interrupted when Uther betroths her to his ally Urien. Unhappy with her husband, she takes a string of lovers until she is caught by a young Guinevere, who expels her from court in disgust. Morgan continues her magical studies under Merlin, all the while plotting against Guinevere. In subsequent chapters she uses her skills to foil Arthur's knights, especially Lancelot, whom she alternately tries to seduce and to expose as Guinevere's adulterous lover. In the Prose Tristan, she delivers to Arthur's court a magic drinking horn from which no unfaithful lady can drink without spilling, hoping to reveal the infidelity.

Thomas Malory mostly follows the portrayal of Morgan in the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles in his book Le Morte d'Arthur, though he expands her role in some cases. Through magic and mortal means, she tries to arrange Arthur's downfall, most famously when she arranges for her lover Accolon to obtain the sword Excalibur and use it against Arthur in single combat. Failing in this, Morgan throws Excalibur's protective scabbard into a lake. The Fay turns up throughout the High and Late Middle Ages, generally in works related to the cycles of Arthur or Charlemagne. At the end of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it is revealed that the entire supernatural episode has been instigated by Morgan as a test for Arthur and his knights, and to frighten Guinevere. Morgan's importance to this particular narrative has been disputed and called a deus ex machina and simply an artistic device to further connect Gawain's episode to the Arthurian story.

In the legends of Charlemagne she is most famous for her association with Ogier the Dane, whom she takes to her mystical island palace to be her lover. In the chanson de geste of Huon de Bordeaux, Morgan is the mother of the fairy king Oberon by none other than Julius Caesar.

Later interpretations[]

The stereotypical image of Morgan is often that of a villainess: a seductive, megalomaniacal sorceress who wishes to overthrow Arthur. Contemporary interpretations of the Arthurian myth (notably the film Excalibur where she is called Morgana) sometimes assign to Morgan the role of seducing Arthur and giving birth to the wicked Mordred, though traditionally Mordred's mother was Morgause, another sister. In these works Mordred is often her pawn, used to bring about the end of the Arthurian age. In Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Morgan le Fay is an archetypical corrupt and cruel feudal aristocrat, keeping prisoners for decades in her dungeon.

Starting in the later 20th century, however, some feminists adopted Morgan as a representation of female power or of a fading form of feminine spirituality supposedly practised by the Celts or earlier peoples. These interpretations draw upon the French romances which portray Morgan as a "benevolent figure" with extraordinary healing powers. This has led to Morgan's expanded role in feminist Arthurian literature such as Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (where she is called Morgaine), which goes so far as to give her credit for the major events of the traditional story. The character appears in the BBC television series Merlin with the name Morgana Pendragon, where she is Uther's ward, and is later revealed to be his illegitimate daughter, and Arthur's half sister. During the first two seasons she is depicted as a good, sometimes heroic character, but in the third season when she realises she has magic and becomes angered by Uther's actions against her people, she turns to darkness. In the Starz 2011 Camelot series, she is also the daughter of Uther Pendragon and a darker character who dabbles in witchcraft and sees herself as the rightful heir to the English throne. Morgan Le Fay was also depicted as one of the Ascenced Ancients on the TV series Stargate SG-1, where she aided the main characters in their quest for the Holy Grail. She also plays a more heroic role in the Magic Tree House series of books written by Mary Pope Osborne, the lead characters, Jack and Annie, are taken on secret missions throughout history by Morgan Le Fay, travelling through time in Le Fay's magical treehouse.

Mary Knickle's opera Morgan le Fay follows this 20th-century tradition in portraying Morgan as representing female power on an isle threatened by fearful male religious fanatics exploiting Mordred's unconcern with women's welfare. She is also hostile to Uther as the murderer of Gorlois, and to her own mother. She has an uneven relationship with her sister Elaine, who (coerced by the clerics) convinces her to return to Britain. Merlin appears as her lover, but she refuses him to save Avalon by withdrawing it from the world. Much of the libretto is drawn from Celtic druidic chants, the Old Testament and modern spiritual eco-feminism conceptions of power drawn from contemplation, calm and enjoying nature.

Morgan le Fay In folklore[]

Morgan le Fay, or Fata Morgana in Italian, has been associated with Sicily since the Norman conquest of southern Italy. As such she gave her name to the form of mirage common off the shores of Sicily, the Fata Morgana. The medieval romance Floriant et Florete places Morgan's mountain home of Montegibel on Sicily, and later Italian folklore describes Morgan as living in Mount Etna.

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Morgan le Fay (mythology) (2024)

FAQs

Morgan le Fay (mythology)? ›

Often linked to various supernatural female characters of Celtic mythology, Morgan is also called Morgan “le Fay” (the fairy), hinting at otherworldly origins for her character. Yet in late medieval depictions, she is more associated with evil ambition and sexual immorality.

What is the role of Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian legend? ›

What did Morgan le Fay do? Morgan le Fay's role varies widely depending on the legend or story you are reading. She is often shown as a healer and protector, but in later versions of the legends, she seduces Merlin, and actively antagonizes Arthur and the court through enchantments and murderous plots.

What type of fairy is Morgan le Fay? ›

While many works make Morgan specifically human, she almost always keeps her magical powers and often also her otherworldly if not divine attributes and qualities. Some medieval authors refer to her as a fairy queen or even outright a goddess (dea, déesse, gotinne).

Who is the myth of Lady Morgana? ›

Morgan le Fay, fairy enchantress of Arthurian legend and romance. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini (c. 1150) named her as the ruler of Avalon, a marvelous island where King Arthur was to be healed of his wounds, and it described her as skilled in the arts of healing and of changing shape.

Who is Morgana in Welsh mythology? ›

In literature, Morgan Le Fay originated as a benevolent mystic before her gradual transformation into the malicious half-sister of Arthur. She first appeared in the twelfth century in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Life of Merlin as the leader of the healers from Avalon.

What is Morgan le Fay the goddess of? ›

In these Celtic stories, we can see glimmers of who Morgan le Fay would become: an otherworldly figure, a voice of death and prophecy, a divine figure of creation and creativity. Morgan le Fay's narrative began to crystallize in 1150 when it first appeared in writing in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini.

What are Morgan le Fay powers? ›

Morgan can cast various spells invoking magical entities (such as the Earth goddess Gaea or the angel of death, Azrael). Her faerie heritage amplifies her powers, allowing her to access both Celtic and Asgardian magic, but it also renders her vulnerable to “cold iron” or steel, even in her astral form.

Is Morgan le Fay Lilith? ›

Morgan le Fay is a sorceress, originally a woman called Lilith from the earliest ages of humanity, and the primary antagonist of the Oracles of Fire series (although the readers retroactively discover that she was behind most of Devin's actions in the first series).

Why does Morgana turn evil? ›

Morgana is given plausible reasons for her change of heart: not only does she have magical powers in a Camelot ruled over by Uther – a king who condemns magical practitioners – but she also discovers that she is his illegitimate daughter and that he has no intention of acknowledging her.

Are Morrigan and Morgan le Fay the same? ›

Here's how it usually begins:"Morgan Le Fay is obviously a guise of the Morrigan, because their names are so similar, so I work with them as the same Goddess."Actually, their names only appear similar; they're actually completely distinct.

Who does Morgan le Fay love? ›

Morgan le Fay was the sister of King Arthur, and Accolon was one of the Knights of the Round Table. Their love story was one that began after Morgan's marriage to Uriens. Accolon was at least the second lover that she took after her forced marriage.

What are the symbols of Morgan le Fay? ›

For Morgan le Fay, I went with some symbols typically associated with darkness, nature, and the feminine: a crescent halo, a raven, and a green dress. A clumsy effort on my part, maybe, but her varying roles as a goddess, antagonist, witch, and queen are all fascinating.

Is Lady Morgana evil? ›

Originally a kind-hearted individual, Morgana changed entirely, becoming evil after being corrupted by Morgause and being betrayed by her former-friend, Merlin.

Is Morgan le Fay good or evil? ›

Type of Villain

Morgan le Fay (alternatively known as Morgan le Faye, Morgane, Morgaine, Morgana and other names), is a powerful sorceress and a treacherous foe in the Arthurian legends. Her character is seldom elaborated beyond her role as a fay (fairy) or magician in earlier works where she is featured.

Is Morgan le Fay a witch? ›

Descended from Celtic goddesses and the fairies of folklore, the literary character of Morgan le Fay has been most commonly perceived as a witch and a one-dimensional villainess who plagues King Arthur and his court, rather than recognized as the legendary King's enchanted healer and otherworldly guardian.

Who is Morgana in Celtic mythology? ›

The Morrígan or Morrígan is a prominent Celtic goddess in Irish mythology. She is often portrayed as a warrior and is connected to death, war, and fate. Morrígan is also known for her ability to transform into different forms, including that of a crow or raven.

What is the relationship between Arthur and Morgan le Fay? ›

Morgana, also called Morgaine or Morgan, is a staple figure of the Arthurian legend. Her relationship to Arthur varies but usually she is introduced as Arthur's half-sister, the daughter of his mother Igraine and her first husband Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall.

Who is Morgan Le Fey and how is she related to Gawain? ›

In the traditional mythology, Gawain's mother is Morgause, sister of Morgan le Fay. In The Green Knight movie adaptation, however, Gawain's mother is Morgan le Fay herself, the legendary sorceress and half-sister to King Arthur.

Why does Morgana hate Arthur? ›

First and foremost, Arthur too, had killed many of her kind. She did not feel like she could trust him. Also, Uther favored him (and illegitimacy aside, Morgana was actually next in line for the throne since she was born before Arthur) so it was natural for her to feel jealous of him.

Is Morgan le Fay the lady of the lake? ›

The Lake and Avalon

Since Morgan le Fay in some sources replaced Nimue as Merlin's student in exchange for offering her love to the wizard, and is also one of the queens that take Arthur to Avalon, she is sometimes also considered a Lady of the Lake.

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