Lovely Blog Party: Arthur & Gwen

      Considered to be one of the greatest, but most tragic love stories in literature. The dramatic, romantic, advantageous love story of the Once and Future King of Camelot, King Arthur and his enigmatic consort, Queen Guinevere, who would be the downfall of both Arthur and Camelot.

     In the BBC show Merlin (2008-2013), the writers took a very different approach to Arthur and Guinevere. Unlike the original story, where Arthur is taken by Merlin and raised as a ward in a loving foster home, in the show he's a spoiled and rash crown prince. Rather than Guinevere portrayed as a young princess from Lyonesse, she's a ladies maid to Princess Morgana. At first you would think that there is absolutely no hope of any possible relationship between these two. 

     The whole basis of Merlin is actually getting Arthur on throne. He needs Merlin to guide to him, Morgana to challenge him and of course Gwen to support him. As the show progresses in season 1, Arthur becomes somewhat influenced by Gwen's character. Her devotion to her work as a lady maid, her friendship with Merlin and her loyalty to the people she loves. He as a prince shows fear at the idea of becoming king, yet Gwen shows utter courage when it comes to facing death for a crime she didn't commit. While their relationship in the beginning is primarily master/servant, Arthur begins to see a person  that could rule beside him as a queen.

      Throughout the show Arthur and Gwen fight their feelings for one another due to their social status' in Albion. However, (with Merlin's help) they come to the understanding that for Albion to need Arthur, he is going to need Gwen. He needs her practicality, compassion and generous nature to balance out his stubborn and at times reckless personality. Through Gwen, Arthur begins to exhibit traits of a merciful and noble king. She is someone who can walk alongside him and he can walk alongside her. And no rules or laws will stop Guinevere from sitting on the throne next to him. 

     However, Arthur is not Gwen's first love. In season 1, she is swept away by the handsome and gallant Lancelot Du Lac. A brilliant swordsman who lives by his trade. He himself is taken with the lovely lady in waiting. Yet, Lancelot never stays for long and soon leaves Gwen, but with a possible promise of returning. When he does return later on in season 3, Arthur and Gwen are in an established relationship with each, which he fully supports. Yet Morgana finally reaches into the deepest recesses of her dark mind and uses their former love to tear apart Arthur and Gwen. 

     Gwen is put under an enchantment by a powerful bracelet and commits an affair with Lancelot the night before her wedding to Arthur in season 4. She is banished from Albion for her betrayal to Arthur. While Arthur tries to forget about Guinevere, he cannot undo years of friendship and love between him and the woman he hoped would one day be his future queen. 

     True love is only its truest when challenged at every turn. Whether by dark magic, lies, deception or even war. Arthur forgives Gwen and asks her to stay; while neither one of them ever knew about the enchanted bracelet or that is was Morgana who had plotted this tragedy. I was always annoyed at the fact that no one ever figured out that Gwen had been enchanted. Arthur and the rest of Albion may always see Gwen's infidelity as a slight against her character. Yet, it also shows Arthur's forgiveness for a personal crime against him giving his character growth and maturity as well. 

     

     He was a prince he needed someone to set him straight. She was a servant girl with the heart of queen. In most Arthurian tellings, Guinevere is usually written as haughty, vain and shallow. So seeing this Cinderella take on her character in Merlin was very different. I enjoyed it though. Arthur and Gwen's journey from master and servant, companions, friends, lovers and ultimately King and Queen of Albion is paramount to Merlin's own journey to becoming the legendary sorcerer. 

      Their love united a kingdom, strengthened a people, defeated an ultimate evil and was eventually left to the most unlikely person imaginable. Upon Arthur's death, Albion rests in the hands of a former servant girl, who possessed the goodness to look beyond a spoiled, young prince and call out the Once and Future King.