The Mists of Avalon "The High Queen"

Being the place to discuss book the two of The Mists of Avalon. Beware all who are threading ahead, there are spoilers here. Not out fault if a main plot point gets revealed too soon!

Well, I'm about half way through the book now, and I'm just plain fascinated. I love Zimmer Bradley's take on the relationship between Arthur, Lancelet and Gwenhyfar. It had never occurred to me before - in the little bit I'd either read or seen about the King Arthur legend - that Lancelet's love for Arthur could be anything other than the friendly kind of love. I knew that Lancelet loved Gwenhyfar, and that Gwenhyfar loved Lancelet, and that both cared for and respected Arthur, but Lancelet actually being IN LOVE with Arthur (even just the suggestion of it) came as a bit of a shock to me!

I'm just now catching up with your post above Elee, and yeah that was a wild little twist. Gwen character is a little strange to me. I always pictured her as graceful queenly character, but instead she says this:

"I like it not that we and the folk of Avalon should fight on the same side. This battle shall be the stand of civilized men, followers of Christ, descendants of Rome, against those who know not our God. The Old People are of the enemy, as much as Saxons, and this will not be proper Christan land until all those folks are dead or fled into their hills, and their demon gods with them. "

Whoa, simplistic, cruel stupidity. Sarah Palin comes to mind...

Gwen is hard (for me impossible) to like or even sympathize with. And I lose my patience with Lancelet, too. I feel for Morgaine, and even Morgause, because they at least take action. Not what I might do, with the Sight and all, but at least they do something. I must confess to liking Morgause. She is sensible, even though ruthless.

dchaikin and rockinrhombus, I feel exactly the same way about Gwenhyfar. She is very dislikable. I try not to hate her too much though and remember that her hatred of the people of Avalon and the old ways is really just a fear of the unknown. She has a lot of anxiety issues!

I too particularly like Morgaine and Morgause, because as you say rockinrhombus, they actually get out there and do something to try and better their lives.