Am I the only one who feels that Mordred from Aruthurian legend is not that bad?

Question

Based on the different versions of Arthurian legen I have done and research on the like. I really like stories that portray Mordred as a tortured soul who had a horrible father who never acknowledged him. I pity Mordred and feel Arthur was an bad father who made some poor decisions as a king. Your thoughts? Does anyone agree/disagree/ or even care?

Answer 1

Mordred was a victim of circumstances, His mother conceived him through deceit and magic (not unlike Arthur's conception). Morgana did not tell Arthur about Mordred until he was already raised to be evil and conniving. As his mother planned, She wanted revenge and her ancestral land. Morgana hated Arthur for the actions of Uther.

Answer 2

I prefer the retelling of he legend, in the movie Knightriders (an excellent film).



Mordred is wrong and right. in most really great stories, there isn't a sense of Black and White, but shades of grey.



Mordred wants the power, but for all the wrong reasons. Aurthur would give him the kingdom, if he wanted it to be King, and not the Overlord.



Really, both Aurthur and Mordred are caught up in the schemes of Morganna, who so wants the power, she will do anything to achieve it, and makes her own son a pawn in her power games.



Meanwhile, Aurthur himself falls to the same lust for power, and begins his slide into the powertrip. Leading to Lance and Gwen having an affair.



Great stories, very powerful...



Still like Knightriders, retelling the Camelot story, in the context of a traveling Renaissance faire, that performs jousts on the backs of motorcycles...

Answer 3

a different slant....



As recounted in other, older mythic and historical writings...

Kingship was transferred through the

"sister-son"....

after Roman and Christianity altered the culture....inheritance went to the eldest son...



which means that as Arthur's sister's son...Mordred was in fact the proper heir and due to be the next King...



sooo.....in creating an Arthurian legend no less than 500 years after the supposed "historical" Arthur lived...the "old" ways were written as bad....and Mordred was seen to be an evil, power hungry destructive force-while, in fact, under the old ways...he was only standing up for his rightful inheritance



read the Mabingion and other Celtic myths for the background...

note..it is not for no reason that -in one telling of the Arthurian legend-that Arthur's head is buried on the coast facing east....



remember...the entire Arthurian legend is only that...legend...

a revisionist historical view that gives a credence/basis for chivalrous, knightly behavior

the person of Arthur is most likely an amalgamation of no less than 2 -probably 3-historical persons and at least 2 mythological personae....one of which is "Bran the Blessed"

Answer 4

I feel that they were both wrong but still.. mordred didn't have to end up quite so evil. but i am not totally against again, if aurthur had been a better father maybe things would have been different?

Answer 5

I agree. I always sympathized with Mordred...Arthur always seemed like such an uppity p**ck! Course, I'm not much for authority figures...

Answer 6

I completely agree. Mordred was terribly misunderstod, and Arthur forsook him at Merlin's wishes.

Answer 7

Mordred may have been a tortured child. But she still grew up to be one very evil and very power hungry person. Is she worthy of your pity, well in my opinion that is still up for grabs.....................

Answer 8

No, he's my hero