What comes to mind when you think of King Arthur and his mythology? Him riding into battle with Excalibur? The great wizard Merlin? The Knights of the Round Table? The sprawling fields of Camelot? These are all common threads in peoples’ minds. However, the women of Arthurian legend are not often considered – or at least they weren’t, until The Mists of Avalon.
In my time I have been called many things: sister, lover, priestess, wise-woman, queen.
The cover of “The Mists of Avalon”
The Book
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley turns Arthurian legend on its head. The expansive novel follows the women of Arthur’s world – Igraine (his mother), Gwenhwyfar (his wife), Morgause (his aunt), Vivianne (the high priestess of Avalon), and Morgaine – the protagonist of the novel. Morgaine is Arthur’s half-sister; in other versions, she is known as Morgana or Morgan le Fay. She is an antagonist in traditional retellings: thwarting the plans of the Round Table and playing a hand in Arthur’s demise. Morgan is usually very one-dimensional – she is a conniving she-devil with mysterious magical powers.
The Mists of Avalon follows Morgaine through her life – her childhood in Avalon training to be a priestess, her pregnancy resulting from a fertility performed with an estranged Arthur (of which neither were aware), her return to court, and Arthur’s death. She is made out to be a sympathetic character. Her anger evolves from constant manipulation during her upbringing, but her true goal is to preserve her religion, that of the Mother Goddess, while the Saxons spread Christianity. It is a fascinating analysis of religion, femininity, and the perception of women throughout mythology.
Other important Arthurian characters make an appearance: Mordred, Lancelot, Uther, and Gwaine are all supporting the main cast. An interesting side note is that most of the characters have different spellings of their name than in the traditional myth. For example, Guinevere is styled Gwenhwyfar. This serves the purpose of separating the characters of traditional myth from Bradley’s retelling. The women are no longer Arthur’s backup dancers; instead, their own ambitions are explored as well as their thoughts and emotions through the generations of their lives.
I would give The Mists of Avalon four stars. The plot and characters are extremely engaging, even for those who are the most well-versed in Arthurian myth. However, the book is lengthy and the world-building, while descriptive, can seem a bit redundant at times. It is slow to start as well – much of Morgaine’s childhood in Avalon is repetitive. Despite this, the book draws you in and keeps you turning pages to follow Morgaine’s adventures.
The Bop
The Mists of Avalon‘s bop is “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. In my mind, “Rhiannon” is perfect for Morgaine’s life. It has a mystical ambiance and is a feminist anthem. Just like the titular Rhiannon, Morgaine fights to avoid being tied down by obligations or other individuals. She marches to the beat of her own drum – something Morgaine initially struggles with but truly embraces by the end of the novel. She is a woman taken by the wind – ubiquitous and unique.
To end this week’s blog, check out The Mists of Avalon. It is best enjoyed outdoors, perhaps in a gazebo by a stream with light rain showers. It will flesh out your understanding of Arthurian legend and offer a refreshing perspective on a time-trodden tale.
She needed no longer to summon the barge – she need only step through the mists here, and be in Avalon. Her work was done.