Juxtaposition of Morgaine and Gwenivere
More than anything else, The Mists of Avalon contrasts Morgaine with Gwenivere, creating a striking dichotomy in terms of religion, sexual freedom, lifestyle, and personal choice. Gwenivere, a queen, finds herself trapped without options in a male-dominated kingdom, while Morgaine is a free-spirited priestess defying the laws of an increasingly Christian society. Bradley weaves in elements of medieval history, such as how women in the Middle Ages were often coerced into marriages against their will. Thus, although Morgaine enjoys freedom in Avalon, she confronts the patriarchal laws of Camelot when she leaves. She becomes a pawn in the social and political ambitions of those around her, both men and women. For instance, Morgaine abandons Avalon and her role as priestess after learning Viviane orchestrated her encounter with her brother. She ultimately resigns to her fate when Gwenivere manipulates her into marrying Uriens, an older man, instead of Accalon, whom she truly loves.
Religious Struggle and Critique of Christianity
The Mists of Avalon opens with a powerful note from Morgaine in the prologue:
Throughout my life, I have been known by many titles: sister, lover, priestess, wise-woman, queen. Now, I truly consider myself a wise woman, and there may come a time when these things need to be revealed. However, I believe it will be the Christians who will recount the final story. The world of Fairy continues to drift further away from the realm where Christ reigns. I hold no grudge against Christ, only against his priests. They label the Great Goddess as a demon and deny her influence in this world. At best, they claim her power was linked to Satan. Alternatively, they dress her in the blue robes of the Lady of Nazareth—who also had her own power—and insist she was always a virgin. But how can a virgin comprehend the pain and struggles of humanity?
The text does not argue that worshiping Jesus Christ is oppressive. Instead, Morgaine challenges the male priests who reinterpret and spread Christ's message, thereby constructing burdensome social systems.
Sexual Freedom and Paganism
Morgaine's life primarily centers around Avalon. In The Mists of Avalon, she, like all priestesses, embraces sexual freedom. Her deep commitment to the Mother Goddess grants her the liberty to make her own choices. During the Beltaine rites, she selects her lovers, surrendering herself to Lancelot in the open air, under the watchful eye of Mother Nature, and later choosing to be with Kevin, who succeeds Merlin. However, this freedom comes with consequences. The Christians in the narrative view Morgaine as a seductive witch, believing she operates under Satan's influence. Her defiant spirit and dedication to the Goddess lead to her estrangement from society.
Christianity vs. Paganism
In The Mists of Avalon, Morgaine represents paganism as a path to liberation and autonomy, while Gwenivere's commitment to Christianity and her views on sexuality are likened to imprisonment. Gwenivere envies Morgaine's freedom of expression and her sexual boldness. Caught between her profound connection with Morgaine and her strict Christian/social upbringing, Gwenivere can't help but feel resentful toward Morgaine. It's only when she comes to understand that her love for Lancelot is the first decision she has made for herself that Gwenivere allows herself to approach him freely. For a while, Gwenivere sets aside her religious devotion and questions God's existence. After being brutally raped by Malagant, she experiences feelings of shame and violation. Since God did not protect her from this ordeal, she seeks solace in Lancelot's embrace. Despite this, she remains tormented by intense Christian guilt and fears of eternal damnation.
Religious Struggle and Feminism
The contrast between Christianity and paganism is a recurring theme in various retellings of the Arthurian legend. While it may...
(This entire section contains 354 words.)
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not always be the dominant theme, the conflict between these religions is consistently present. InThe Mists of Avalon, this religious conflict is portrayed as a symbolic struggle. Throughout the narrative, the dynamic between Morgaine and Gwenivere embodies this tension. Despite developing an unexpected and somewhat peculiar affection for each other, both women harbor jealousy, fear, and resentment towards one another. From the onset of the story, Christianity and paganism are depicted as polar opposites. Bradley clearly illustrates that Gwenivere feels oppressed by the Christian Church, leading her to envy the freedom Morgaine enjoys through her devotion to the goddess. Gwenivere holds the belief that
a woman's rightful duty was to marry and bear children... Women had to be particularly cautious to follow God's will because it was through a woman that humanity fell into Original Sin. Every woman must acknowledge that her role is to atone for that Original Sin from Eden. No woman could truly be good except for Mary, the Mother of Christ; all other women were inherently evil, with no opportunity to be anything else. This was [their] punishment for being like Eve, sinful, filled with rage and rebellion.
The absurdity of Gwenivere's beliefs highlights the narrator's criticism of the Christian institution. Much like numerous feminist voices have critiqued religion over the past two centuries, Bradley uses her storytelling to give voice to the women of Camelot. In doing so, The Mists of Avalon challenges the patriarchal structures of Christianity in favor of the Goddess. Morgaine tells us that Christians assert that "there is no Goddess; for the principle of woman is the principle of all Evil" and that women should not attempt to interpret the divine scriptures because they lack the understanding, and should thus "listen to their priests for the true interpretations." In contrast, Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, views men with disdain as "the natural prey of the Goddess in the form of her priestesses to be taken or denied as seemed right at the moment."
Challenge to Patriarchal Christianity
The Christian tradition embedded within this legend has historically led to the depiction of powerful women as malevolent figures in literature. Consequently, early narratives often cast Morgan le Fay and Gwenivere in a negative light whenever they wielded political or social influence. Furthermore, the notion of original sin provided a sacred and seemingly legitimate foundation for undermining women, which people were too intimidated to contest during the early days of Christianity. However, in The Mists of Avalon, the central theme seeks to challenge this initial phase of the religion. The text portrays strong women who stand up to and resist the "mindless" Christian priests.
Gwenivere's Struggle with Religion and Identity
It's not surprising that Gwen is drawn to the idea of goddess worship throughout The Mists of Avalon. She is depicted as a woman trying to carve out a place for herself in the male-centric world of Camelot. From the start of her relationship with Arthur, Gwenivere is aware of her subordinate role and reflects on being merely Arthur's "prize of war" and a "broodmare for the High King's stud service." When she worries about being unable to have children, she seeks a "charm" from Morgaine to aid her fertility: "I think perhaps God cares nothing for women—all his priests are men, and again and again the Scriptures tell us that women are the temptress and evil—it may be that is why he does not hear me. And for this I would go to the Goddess—God does not care." Additionally, when she fears for her life because of Malagant, Gwenivere turns to Morgaine and the Goddess for help: "God did not reward me for virtue. What makes me think he could punish me? ... Perhaps there was no God at all.... Perhaps it was all a great lie of the priests so that they may tell mankind what to do, what not to do, what to believe, give orders." However, Gwenivere's inclination towards goddess worship is brief and fleeting; despite her moments of temptation, she lacks the strength to defy those around her. Bradley illustrates a similar quest for freedom in the character of Morgan le Fay. By contrasting Gwenivere's Christian beliefs with Morgaine's character, Bradley highlights the societal challenges faced by women like Morgaine.
Feminist Visions and Patriarchy
Bradley's work presents feminist perspectives to highlight how patriarchy suppresses and silences women. While her narrative is centered on the legend of King Arthur, the message is relevant to modern female audiences. Over time, the patriarchy entrenched in religious institutions has only intensified, negatively impacting women. To challenge this patriarchal narrative within the legend, Bradley introduces the concept of the Goddess. The tale of Arthur—encompassing his birth, reign, and relationships with Morgaine and Camelot—focuses on Avalon's influence and its efforts to preserve the Goddess's worship in Britain.
