User blog comment:Fimber/Elements of classic literature and religion in "Merlin"/@comment-188.32.253.75-20130203051430/@comment-188.32.253.75-20130205230918

I want to apologize. You're right, of course, I shouldn't have sweared like this on this site. Thank you for correcting me in a soft way.

I've been writing quite a large passage on Gwen and the rest, but unfortunately the page was reloaded, and it was lost. :D Perhaps it's for the best, and this discussion should be left for anothet time or place? I look forward to it, although it's obviously offtopic here...

As for the classic lore, I understand it's common knowledge. I just wanted to point out that those subtle hints and references to it are one of many brilliant things in the series I particularly appreciate.

For now, I guess, I'll limit myself to some more classic elements.

The curse of the Unicorn pretty much resembles the Plagues of Egypt. For the ruler's crimes his land is punished by God (or some mysterious power in "Merlin"), and only making amends can lift the curse, while the opposite worsens it. Anhora may even be loosely based on the figure of Moses.

Gwen for Cinderella, anybody? Her rivalry for the throne with Morgana (sort of evil sister) adds up to the analogy.

The dilemma between Arthur, Uther and Ygraine resembles the classic tragedy of Orestes. There are some differences, however, not only do the parents' genders are swapped for their roles, Uther, in fact, didn't kill Ygraine, at least willingly, while Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon in cold blood. And in the end Arthur does *not* kill Uther and therefore escapes Orestes's ordeal... Thanks to Merlin, who has successfully foreseen and prevented it.

What about the similarity between Merlin and Hercules? I don't mean the physique :D, obviously, but the foremost superhero at the service of a king.