The Uther of Jack Whyte's story strongly desires to be with Ygraine. The two engage in a physical relationship while she is held captive. Love is not discussed until Ygraine finds herself pregnant. On the other hand, some of the stories show how great their love can be. Deeping's novel depicts the great love that blossoms between the two on their journey.
Even when separated for years, they still long to be together. John Conlee's article highlights the fact that neither Igraine nor Pelleas is aware of the other's true identity. They both fall in love with each other's true selves. Uther loves the fearless and gentle nature of Igraine and Igraine loves Uther's caring and self-sacrificing attitude. The story ends with the reunion of Uther and Igraine without describing a consummation.
Marion Zimmer Bradley portrays the love of Uther and Igraine as so great that it follows them throughout their lives. Inexplicably drawn to one another, Igraine thinks that her feelings for Uther are some trick of Viviane's to push her into fulfilling her destiny. It is not until she dreams of life long past, that Igraine realizes that she and Uther were great loves in another life.
Even in Geoffrey's chronicle there is some hint that the two really did have feelings for one another. The account of Uther and Ygerna ends by saying "from that day on they lived together as equals, united by their great love for each other" Perhaps they had the kind of love that grew over time.
One thing, however, that is not mentioned in most stories, is whether or not Igraine discovers Uther's deception and how she feels about it. An interesting thing about some stories is the way in which the relationship between Uther and Igraine is cleaned up. However, he does not attempt to be with her until the Duke is slain in battle.
The basic problem that requires Merlin's assistance is the fact that Igerna is locked up in Tintagel. It is for this that Merlin helps Uther and Uther promises his first-born son. While it is mostly children's books that clean up the story for their audiences, other works change the story in a similar fashion.
Tennyson's version has Merlin finding baby Arthur who is brought to the shore by the ninth wave that crashes down aflame in the dark night.
This variation makes Arthur a much more divine and mystical character. Perhaps Tennyson devised this story because of the illicitness of the affair seemed a bit too shocking to Victorian readers.
Within most of the accounts of the affair of Uther and Igraine, there is usually some reference to the legitimacy of their union or of the Arthur's birth. Some stories say that Gorlois died before Uther lies with Igraine while others claim he was not slain until after his wife was deceived into making love to Uther. Often, at the same time that Uther comes to Igraine, Gorlois is killed in battle.
Deeping's novel differs quite a bit from most other accounts in this regard. Uther does not trick Igraine into thinking he is Gorlois. In fact, it is Gorlois who uses Merlin's magic to look like Pelleas and fools Igraine into marrying him.
Gorlois is killed before the pair are reunited. In the Scottish chronicle of John of Fordun, Arthur's conception is declared illegitimate and, thus, Anna and Loth's sons are the rightful heirs to the throne.
In his article on the Scottish Chroniclers, Karl Goller mentions the prevalence of this opinion among Scottish chroniclers. He writes that there were very few chroniclers in Scotland who believed in Arthur's right to be king. By presenting Arthur's birth as illegitimate, they defend the rebellion of Mordred as an attempt to claim the throne that was rightfully his. One element of the tale of Uther and Igraine has important ramifications for some authors. Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, is slain and his wife and land are taken from him because of Uther's desire for Gorlois's wife.
Some authors suggest that effect of the unfair treatment of the Duke can be felt throughout Arthur's life. The reign of King Arthur, who is the product of what is sometimes called an illicit and sinful affair, ends in tragedy because of the offense against Gorlois. At the end of the first book of his series, he writes that it that Uther and Ygerne were haunted by the death of Gorlois. White tells the story of Uther and Igraine in an interesting way. The young sons of Lot tell the story to one another and swear to avenge their wronged granny.
The eerie storytelling seems to foreshadow the ultimate defeat of King Arthur. Thomas Hughes's tragic play The Misfortunes of Arthur opens with the ghost of Gorlois telling his sorrowful tale and calling for revenge. The play depicts Arthur's tragic fall, which results from Gorlois's curse. At the end of the play, Arthur and Mordred fight in Cornwall, the same place where Gorlois was betrayed. The sin of Uther had come back to his son and led to his ultimate demise.
Although tales of Uther and Igraine are not as common as some Arthurian stories, the story prevails throughout time. There are several reasons why this story remains an important part of the Arthurian legend.
First, it is an intriguing story with sex and violence. Great battles rage on between Gorlois and the armies of Uther while Uther deceives Igraine into to sleeping with him. Another reason is that this beginning to the tale of Arthur is the cause for the king's tragic end.
The basis of Thomas Hughe's play is the revenge of the wronged Gorlois on the son of Uther Pendragon. Arthur pays the price for his father's sins. Most importantly, the story of Uther and Igraine is where the legend begins.
Without their encounter, King Arthur would not exist nor would the wealth of stories about him. Supervised and guided by Alan Lupack, director of the Robbins Library, she undertook this project to increase her knowledge of Arthurian legends as well as her experience with literary research and web page design. The History of the Kings of Britain. Lewis Thorpe. New York: Penguin Books, Within the work, there is a reference to the relationship between Uther and Igraine, parents to King Arthur.
Uther becomes king after the poisoning and death of his brother Aurelius by a Saxon named Eopa. The death of his brother causes another uprising of the Saxons lead by Octa, the son of Hengist. In an attempt to stop the advancing and destructive Saxons, Uther calls together all of the British leaders and princes to form a plan of attack.
The opinion of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, is highly valued by Uther because he is "a man of great experience and mature years" With his advice, the Saxons are defeated and Octa is captured. A victorious celebration ensues at Eastertide.
All the British nobles gather including Gorlois with his wife Ygerna "who was the most beautiful woman in Britain" Upon seeing her, Uther is immediately filled with desire for her. Gorlois notes the flirtatious attention Uther bestows on his wife and leaves the court without permission.
Enraged, Uther vows to destroy Gorlois' land until he gets "satisfaction for the way in which he had been insulted" Hiding away his beautiful wife at Tintagel, Gorlois leaves to battle against his king. Consumed with desire for Ygerna, Uther seeks advice from Merlin. The magician helps Uther by changing him into the likeness of Gorlois. Easily gaining entrance into the castle, Uther goes to Ygerna "and satisfied his desire by making love with her" Arthur is conceived that night and meanwhile the Duke is killed in a siege of his camp.
Uther leaves and learns of the death of Gorlois. He returns to Tintagel and seizes it and Ygerna at the same time. Geoffrey writes, "from that day on they lived together as equals, united by their great love for each other" It is interesting to note that there is no discussion of Ygerna's feelings until after she is married to Uther.
Indeed, there is no mention of love on either part until they are married. Uther's first feelings for Ygerna are described as lust. This last line about the relationship seems to suggest that there was true love between the two and their marriage was based on more than desire and political gain.
When Uther sees Ygraine at a gathering of all his most noble barons and knights, he falls deeply in love with her. Ygraine, who is married to the duke of Tintagel, takes note of his increased attention of her, but she is utterly faithful to her husband and avoids Uther. The King sends jewels to all the ladies at court, but Ygraine knows the presents were given to all the women because of her. The King continues to call all his noblemen and their wives to court so that he may see Ygraine.
Uther's love for Ygraine increases each time he sees her and Ygraine can sense his distress, but does not know what to do. Uther's closest friends, especially Ulfin, try to counsel their lovesick king.
Ulfin journeys to Tintagel to deliver Uther's gifts to the beautiful Ygraine. Ygraine will still not yield to the king's advances and the king, impressed by her faithfulness, loves her even more for it.
Ygraine tells her husband of Uther's love for her and the duke is greatly angered. The duke rides out to wage war against Uther. Ulfin brings Merlin to help Uther be with Ygraine. Disguised as her husband, Uther enters Tintagel and openly kisses Ygraine.
As he and Ygraine leave to be alone, Merlin reminds him that he promised his first male child. The duke is killed as he storms Uther's camp and the king takes his castle and his wife. When it becomes apparent that Ygraine is pregnant, Uther asks her about the child's father.
Ygraine tells him that a man who looked like her husband came to her, but it could not have been him because he would have already been dead. The child is born and given to Merlin, as was promised.
John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation. William F. Edinburgh: Llanerch Publishers, This chronicle is a departure from the others studied because it is about Scottish history. Not much is said about Uther and Igraine, but the legitimacy of Arthur is discussed. Uther is described as a brave man who is "excessively given to stirring up civil war among his subjects" The civil war may be referring to his quarrels with Gorlois over Igraine.
He is poisoned by the Saxons and Arthur succeeds him to the throne. The chronicle notes here that this was not "lawfully his due" The traditional Scottish view holds that Anna and, more specifically, her sons were owed the throne. Modred and Galwanus of Loth are considered to be the rightful heirs.
Christine Marie Harker. University of California Riverside, Hardyng's chronicle strongly echoes the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth. The account of Vter and Igerne is similar to the one found in the chronicle of Geoffrey. Gorlois leaves Vter's court, angering the King.
War ensues between the Duke and the King. Merlin transforms Vter into the semblance of Gorlois so he may gain access to his castle and his wife. Hardyng's chronicle is careful to note that Igerne went to bed that night with a man she thought was her husband, "trusting it was so done in clene spousage" line , pg Igerne is depicted as a good and true woman.
The result of their union is Arthur. In the meantime, Gorlois is killed when his camp is stormed by Vter's troops. Before his poisoning by the Saxons, Vter orders that the great Round Table be built so that all his great leaders may gather together. Nothing is said about love between Vter and Igerne. It is simply put that Vter saw Igerne and desired to be with her. James Spisak. In his romance about King Arthur, Thomas Malory creates a situation similar to that in Geoffrey's chronicle.
The Duke of Cornwall is summoned to Uther and is asked to bring his wife, Igrayne. When they arrive, the king sees Igrayne and "desired to have lyen by her" 3. However, Igrayne is a good and loyal wife and declines his offers.
Malory differs from Geoffrey in that Igrayne asks Gorlois for an immediate departure from court before she is dishonored. Malory's representation depicts Igrayne as a virtuous woman concerned about her honor. The Duke and Uther fall into great dissension over his departure, which results in a war between the two. Igrayne is kept in the castle of Tyntagil where it is thought she will be safe from the King's advances. Merlin also plays a key role in Malory's version as he transforms Uther into the appearance of the Duke.
However, in this story, he requests that the child the two conceive that night be given to him. Uther agrees and enters the castle to satisfy his lust.
In Malory's account, the Duke is killed three hours before Arthur is conceived, making him a legitimate child. After the birth of Arthur, Uther asks Igrayne, now his wife, who the father of the child was. She replies that a man who looked like her dead husband came to her and got her with child. The child is given over to Merlin and after the death of Uther, Igrayne only surfaces once more in the story. Igrayne reveals that Arthur and Morgause are brother and sister after Arthur has already slept with Morgause.
There is little mention of love within Malory's story. Uther does tell Igrayne that he loves her no matter what when he asks her about the origins of their son, Arthur. Igrayne, however, says nothing about love to either one of her husbands. Gorlois is besieged at Castle Terrabil while Igraine goes to Tintagel.
Seeing his enemy depart from the gates of Terrabil, Gorlois rides out to fight. Igraine only discovers later that her husband was killed three hours before a man with his face came to her bed. There is no one left to fight for her and only bad options left to make peace; Uther quickly compels her into marriage, making her his queen.
The youngest of her girls, Morgan le Fay, is sent to be educated in a nunnery — where, according to Malory, she takes up necromancy. Those are interesting nuns. Morgan later marries yet another king, Uriens of Gore. It is only when Igraine is heavily pregnant that Uther confesses his deceit. The boy is of course Arthur. He is fostered with a knight called Sir Ector and grows up without any contact with his birth parents.
Two years after the birth, Uther Pendragon falls ill and his enemies press the advantage. Merlin manages to prod him into naming Arthur as his successor just before his death, but no one has ever heard of this promised prince before, least of all Arthur himself.
Which leaves all the powerful men of the realm eyeing each other and the throne with worrying interest. Having created the problem, Merlin is the one to solve it.
He has the Archbishop of Canterbury summon all the lords to witness a Christmas miracle. Upon a huge stone stands a steel anvil, and embedded through the top of that is a beautiful sword with a challenge written in gold upon the blade: Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England. Among the lords coming to compete is Sir Ector, accompanied by his son Kay newly made a knight and the younger boy Arthur.
Kay realises he has lost his sword. Sent home to retrieve it, Arthur finds the house emptied as everyone has gone to watch the jousting. He confesses to Arthur that he is not in fact his birth father, that Arthur was delivered to him as a baby by Merlin.
Time and time again the noblemen of the realm attempt to pull the sword free but the only one who can make it budge is Arthur. He does that a lot. Finally the common people insist Arthur must take the throne, and he is made a knight by the Archbishop. Texts Images Creator Work. Boughton, Rutland - Buckley, Reginald R. Uther and Ygerne - Editor. De Beverley, Thomas. The Youth of Sir Arthour - Author. Deeping, Warwick - Uther and Igraine - Author. Pyle, Howard - Westwood, Thomas c.
The Sword of Kingship - Author.
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