Author:
LadyLygeia
[ Edit | View ]
|
Date Posted: 16:47:41 03/22/01 Thu
>DW, Arthurian legends ... What an awesome combination
>that would be! Well, the book's always better than
>the movie anyway, so (especially after The Island)
>it's probably better left to our imaginations, right?
>
>But still ... Wish *we* had been the casting
>directors! But then DW would have been too busy with
>POTA (being covered up with ape make-up) to do it
>anyway, huh?
>
>Gorlois? What sort of character is he? I'm not
>familiar with that legend.
In Arthurinian Legend, Gorlois was the first husband of Igraine of Cornwall. In "Mists of Avalon", Igraine is presented as sister to Viviane, the Lady of The Lake, priestess of The Goddess of Avalon. He is the father of Morgaine (Morgana, Morgan Le Fey) who follows Viviane into priestesshood at Avalon.
At first the character of Gorlois is somewhat sympathetic, kind and gentle, portrayed as Christian as opposed to Igraine's and Viviane's Pagan (Igraine later abandons the Old Religion for Christianity and seeks the convent when her husband King Uther, father of King Arthur dies).
In order to bring about the cycle of events needed to secure the rightful king of England, mainly that Uther must father a son and Igraine, last of the royal line of Avalon must bear that son. Uther is certain to be named High King of England when the present aging king dies. Vivian orchestrates a series of events that cause the upset of Igraine's lot. Igraine sees Uther and realizes that she knew and loved him in a long past life. Uther realizes it too and it doesn't take long for him to become smitten with gentle, demure Igraine.
Gorlois turns into a jealous bastard who beats his wife, his woman, his property when he cannot satisfy his lust upon her.
Gorlois of course, is killed when it is realized that he conspires to commit treason against Uther, to whom he has sworn allegiance.
And oh yeah. There is no way the book will be followed faithfully. It is presented first from a slightly more "feminist" perspective. Not the expected, men bad, women good, more like, women are VERY important, men.
And the pagan aspect. We won't be seeing the ancient rites of Midsummer on TNT in July, when the miniseries airs. That much I can guarantee. If they do, I will be shocked. SHOCKED. It won't happen. It's starkly graphic in the book. These aren't the gentle practices of today's pagans, these are the blood-drenched, sexually explicit fertility rites of the ancients.
There is much talk and praise of the Goddess in the book and that will not sit well with censors, I think. I don't know how the producers are going to pull this one off. The book is magnificent. The most satisfying read I've had in years.
This is not Boorman's Excalibur, and it ain't yer daddy's King Arthur.
I highly, absolutely reccommend this book. The mini-series is anyone's guess.
|
Feedback: 
Re: You convinced me!
Re: You convinced me!