Talk:Morgana Pendragon/@comment-176.24.139.50-20200430112826

Morgana started the series as a young, innocent woman who disagreed with the harsh measures Uther had placed upon the magical community. Despite this, being filled with anti-sorcery propaganda since childhood (when she was adopted by Uther), she still feared and even despised the craft. As a result, upon discovering her own magic she was "disgusted with who and what [I am]." A loneliness began to creep into her, as she had no one to confide in or receive help from regarding her powers.

It has to be noted here that Merlin did want to support her, but it was in the insistence of Gaius telling him to protect his secret and the Great Dragon not to trust her due to her destiny that he did not. However, similarly to Mordred, it would have been so simple for Merlin to take the dragon's advice and simply kill them both - saving Albion in the process - but he didn't. I personally believe that if not for the Great Dragon's warnings, Merlin would have spoken to Morgana of Albion, and they would have worked together both to hone their powers, and protect and prepare Arthur so he could fulfil his destiny to create the world in which they would all be accepted for who they are. Merlin's compassion preventing him from completely following the Great Dragon's advice, instead stuck in an in-between not killing, but pushing them towards evil with inexplainable mistrust was what I believe contributed to both Morgana and Mordred's betrayals.

Morgana also believed that all of her friends and family - Gwen, Arthur, Uther, Merlin - would despise her for her powers in the same way she despised herself. This made her more susceptible to partake in plots to undermine and even assassinate Uther. But then Morgause entered her life. A fellow sorceress, steeped in power, who loved and accepted Morgana in a way Morgana had never thought possible, connecting not only through blood, but also through a shared talent. Morgause taught Morgana that magic was a gift, not a curse. Desperate to be accepted, Morgana agreed to Morgause's plan to assassinate Uther, whom she had built up a hatred for - it was easier than hating herself.

Then the final straw: Merlin tried to poison her. Morgana didn't know that she was the cause of the kingdom's suffering, and couldn't understand why her friend - the only person (that she knew of) in Camelot who knew of her magic - would do this to her. Then Morgause spent an entire year explaining it to her: those who she thought were her friends despised her - or at least, her magic. They would never accept her. Only Morgause would. Morgause helped Morgana to hone her magical abilities, and showed her that she wasn't a monster, just an incredibly powerful woman. Morgana came to rely deeply on the love that only seemed to come from Morgause, and would do anything to please her sister, latching on to Morgause's desire to take over Camelot.

As a result, Morgana returned to Camelot lonely and miserable once more - the only thing keeping her sane was the knowledge that she was helping her sister; and Morgause's visits. Morgause's overall plans were always to place Morgana upon the throne of Camelot, and the loss of her sister left Morgana even more alone, but even more determined to end Uther's - and later Arthur's - reigns to fulfil her sister's desires. Hence, Morgana becomes obsessed and even deranged, trying anything and everything to undermine Camelot. She is unwilling to love anyone thanks to Morgause teaching her that only Morgause could be trusted, but that doesn't mean she doesn't crave it. She forms a connection with Aithusa as unbreakable as that she had with her sister - leading to further torture for her identity - and is desperate for the affections of Mordred. Being isolated in a hovel for months further fed this frenzy, as she was trapped alone with memories of all the ways she'd been wronged, and toxic thoughts of revenge.

Morgana's character arc is a hauntingly tragic masterpiece built of self-loathing projected onto others, incurable loneliness, and a desperate desire to be loved and accepted. I could never make myself hate Morgana. Whilst Merlin had his own battles of being a sorcerer in Camelot, Morgana's were far far worse. She had so many pent-up negative emotions, no one to confide in, and had to keep up a pretence every day when she knew that her father, who swore he loved her, would have her executed if he ever found out her true identity. Merlin had Gaius, whose influence gave him a positive purpose. Morgana was left with Morgause, who set her on a path to destruction.

I love Morgana's character. It's wonderfully complex, beautifully written, and perfectly captured by Katy McGrath.