Michael Mitchell

Merlin and Backwards Blogs

Write a “backwards blog” from the point of view of Merlin.

Because Merlin ages in reverse in The Once and Future King, a blog by him would go in reverse, at least from everyone else’s point of view.

My Project

Merlin in Time

Our Merlin is a composite Merlin, built from the many, many different interpretations we have of him.

This means that the Merlin of our time is a man of contradictions. He is, in fact, backwards.

So What?

Our Merlin Is….Magic/Scientific

Pagan/Christian

Prophet/Ineffectual

What does a backwards man create?

King ArthurOne of the greatest

kings of myth.

Isn’t that just a little odd that a man of contradictions can shape a mighty king?

Merlin not only brings about Arthur’s birth but, now, in modern version teaches or even raises the boy.

What does he teach:PoliticsMilitaryEtiquette (“chivalry”)

Merlin as Mentor

What Merlin provides a young Arthur is social experience, good and bad.

This is a time of no communication. There is no way of easily passing on the vast stores of social information that a king needs.

It requires a more complex mentor to teach a hero the good and bad that he will contend with.

The “Social” in “Social Media”

Look at Arthur’s KnightsLancelot: A Knight of

Love

Gawain: A Knight of Strength

Percival: A Knight of Nature

Galahad: A Knight of Holyness

Only together are they an effective force.

Separate, they are highly dysfunctional men.

They are heros but they are not kings.

THE KING requires more than heroic deeds or motivations. He has to be more complex.

He requires the experience of society, of all sections of society good and bad.

Merlin brings the complexity of society. The mix of influences. The experience a young king will need.

Men Without Chests

What I’m saying is it takes a man who was “born” out of a tomb, raised by his lover, graffitis graves, assists in adultery, casually dresses up as other people, takes children that aren’t his, and may be the Antichrist to represent the Internet and raise a perfect king.

And he should be played by Brad Pitt.

Conclusion