Who is Merlin?The character of Merlin as he appears in ancient myths and modern stories is somewhat difficult to parse. In the old tales, Merlin is a mysterious, wise figure—a prophet, guide, and shapeshifter with a deep connection to magic and nature though not without his flaws such as his lineage and obsessions with his students. In recent decades, relatively speaking he has become even more fractured as a character. He’s shown in many disparate ways between today’s books, movies, and shows, where he might be a playful teacher (like in The Sword in the Stone) or a darker, more complicated character (like in BBC’s Merlin). How do these versions of Merlin reflect how we see wisdom, power, and right and wrong today? |