The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon is an adaptation of the legends of King Arthur by author Marion Zimmer Bradley. Zimmer Bradley’s novel diverges from most Arthurian adaptations by focusing on the perspectives of the female characters surrounding King Arthur, bringing their occasionally sidelined stories front and center. Zimmer Bradley was a notable figure in the science fiction and fantasy world, publishing several acclaimed novels within the genre. The Mists of Avalon was published in 1983 and immediately became popular. In 1984, it was awarded the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Its success led Zimmer Bradley to expand the book into a series, writing three subsequent installations with collaborator Diana L. Paxson. The Mists of Avalon was also adapted as a miniseries in 2001. Content warnings for The Mists of Avalon include mentions and graphic depictions of rape, incest, and child marriage.

Plot Summary

Morgaine is the daughter of Igraine and Duke Gorlois of Cornwall. Igraine is a child of Avalon, but was married off to Gorlois at a very young age. Though Gorlois loves Igraine in his own way, she pines for Uther Pendragon, the High King of Britain. Her sister Viviane, and Taliesin the Merlin, two powerful figures in the magical land of Avalon, told her she was destined to have Uther’s son. This son would grow to be a legendary king who would unite Britain.

Igraine and Uther marry shortly after Gorlois is killed for treason, and they have a son, Gwydion. Uther sends both children to be fostered after Gwydion’s life is threatened: Morgaine goes to live with Viviane, where she trains to be a priestess of Avalon. Morgaine has a natural gift for magic, and Viviane plans to name her Lady of the Lake one day. She learns that there is a great battle between Druidism and Christianity and that she will play a role in preserving Avalon and uniting Britain under a new High King.

For Avalon to accept him, this new High King must participate in a fertility ritual called the Great Marriage, having sex with a virgin priestess to form a covenant with the land. This will turn him into King Stag, who gives his life for the land and its people. Morgaine completes this ritual with the future king, only to learn afterward that she unwittingly slept with Gwydion, who now goes by the name Arthur. Morgaine is ashamed and upset that the Goddess humiliated her like this.

When Morgaine returns to Avalon, Viviane tells her that she plans to give Arthur Excalibur, a sacred Druid sword. She instructs Morgaine to create an enchanted scabbard that will protect him in battle. This will show Arthur that Avalon supports him and will bind him to protect them as long as he rules. Arthur receives Excalibur before a crucial battle against the Saxons, and his victory proves his legitimacy. When Uther eventually dies, Arthur is crowned with little controversy.

To her dismay, Morgaine finds out that she is pregnant with Arthur’s child. Angry with Viviane, Morgaine renounces Avalon and has her son, Gwydion, in the court of her Aunt Morgause. Morgause and her husband Lot openly desire the throne of Britain, and Gwydion gives them an opportunity to pursue it. Eventually, Morgaine decides to return to Caerleon, where she serves as a lady-in-waiting to Arthur’s new wife, Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyfar is beautiful, incredibly anxious, and deeply pious. As a priestess of Avalon, Morgaine often chafes with Gwenhwyfar about matters of religion. They also fight for the affections of Lancelet, Arthur’s most esteemed knight. Gwenhwyfar believes that her adulterous love for Lancelet is preventing her from carrying a pregnancy to term and tortures herself over her feelings.

The night before a key battle against the Saxons, Gwenhwyfar convinces Arthur to fly the sign of the cross rather than the red dragon (a symbol of his protection of all beliefs). Arthur’s decisive victory prompts him to rule as a Christian king. This alienates his allies in Avalon. They only stand with him because he continues to wield Excalibur. After this battle, Arthur moves his court to Camelot.

Gwenhwyfar’s continued inability to produce an heir leads her down a spiral of blame and self-doubt. Arthur, noticing her feelings for Lancelet, tells her that if she has a child with him, he would adopt it as his own. She takes this as an indication of her sin and tells Morgaine she is considering participating in a pagan fertility ritual out of desperation. To calm her down, Morgaine tells Gwenhwyfar that Arthur has a bastard son living in the court of King Lot, swearing her to secrecy.

Worrying that Gwenhwyfar’s love for Lancelet will bring shame to Arthur, Morgaine enchants Lancelet into sleeping with Elaine, the daughter of one of Arthur’s allies. Elaine promises her future daughter in exchange for Morgaine’s role in setting up her marriage. Her daughter, Nimue, eventually trains as a priestess of Avalon.

While Arthur and Gwenhwyfar argue over her infertility, she confesses that Morgaine told her he has a son. Arthur suspects that this is a result of the fertility ritual and confronts Morgaine, who admits that their son, Gwydion, is training to be a priest at Avalon. Both the incest and the training horrify Gwenhwyfar, and she orders Arthur to do public penance with his fanatic bishop, Patricius.

At Camelot’s Pentecost feast, Morgaine enjoys the company of Accolon, a Druid prince from North Wales. His father, King Uriens, asks Arthur for Morgaine’s hand in marriage. Gwenhwyfar, angry at Morgaine’s role in Lancelet’s marriage and wanting to send her away, tells Arthur that Uriens is a valuable ally. When Arthur asks if she would marry Welsh royalty, Morgaine enthusiastically consents, thinking he is referring to Accolon, and must marry Uriens. Morgaine and Accolon have an affair and spread the ways of Avalon throughout North Wales. The pagans in the region regard them as their High Priest and Priestess.

Gwydion visits Camelot after completing his training in Avalon and spending several years learning warfare from the Saxons. He knows his true parentage and wants Arthur to acknowledge him and accept him at court. However, he is rumored to be the bastard son of Lancelet. In order to avoid accusations of favoritism, he challenges Lancelet to a mock fight. Lancelet, impressed by his bravery, knights him as Sir Mordred.

Morgaine, sick of watching Arthur fail to uphold his oath, tells Accolon that they must launch a coup against Camelot. She plans to trap Arthur in the fairy world. However, Arthur breaks out by calling on his devotion to God, and he kills Accolon in combat. Uriens claims that Accolon never would have challenged Arthur without pressure from Morgaine, suspecting their affair. Morgaine is forced to flee Wales.

While in Avalon, Morgaine learns that Kevin, the Merlin of Britain, has stolen some of the Isle’s Holy Regalia with the intention of bringing it to Camelot’s clergy. Kevin believes Avalon’s days are numbered and thinks it is best to make amends with Camelot. Morgaine, in disguise, travels to Camelot to take them back. During a service, Morgaine uses her magic to manifest as the Presence, a symbol of the One God. She carries the Holy Grail throughout the mass, prompting the knights to go on a quest to find it. While they are gone, Mordred takes the opportunity to gain Arthur’s trust before ultimately making a bid for the throne. He mortally wounds Arthur, and Morgaine takes him to Avalon to die in peace. She tells him he did his best to protect Britain and buries him on the Holy Isle. Morgaine remains in Avalon and swears to tell the story of King Arthur and Camelot.