LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
BOOKED Solid |
Reviewed by Rebecca James |
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Ballantine Books, 1982
Summer months have always been a magical time for me. Hot sun, salty air, and crashing waves are the perfect ingredients in a powerful potion for dreaming. Of course, my favorite summer pastime has always been reading on the beach and this July was no exception. My beach bag weighed in a little heavier than usual with this issue's reading selection; The Mists of Avalon is thick with magic, fairies, and enough scandal to fuel your imagination for the rest of the summer. Marion Zimmer Bradley published The Mists of Avalon almost twenty years ago. It quickly became a cult classic for lesbians and women's groups, but the story, rich in historical details about King Arthur and Camelot, should appeal to all. The Mists is a creative retelling of these legends with a twist. The book is told from the perspective of the women during this period, most specifically King Arthur's half-sister, the powerful priestess Morgaine, and his wife, the childless and Christian Queen Gwenhwyfar. The book spans generations; Morgaine's aunt is the Lady of Avalon, the high priestess closest to the Goddess that the Old Tribes of Britain and the priestesses of Avalon worship. Their traditions and ancient religion is in danger. At this point in history (approximately 400 A.D.), Christian priests are gaining power with the ruling class. They advocate for the destruction of Avalon and the Goddess religion and encourage their Christian kings to eliminate the sacred worship places of their non-Christian subjects. Under the Goddess religion, familial lines (in particular those of royal blood) were traced through the mother. Queens were the powerful rulers of state while their kings or male counterparts (if unmarried) traveled through their territory focused on guarding their interests and developing military strategies. Following the arrival and spread of Christianity and the concept of "original sin," queens and women in general lost power and served a decorative and breeding purpose. The influence of Rome in Britain changed the destiny of the women there forever. As the Saxons continue to invade and destroy parts of Britain and the religious divides grow deeper, the high priestess of Avalon, Viviane, seeks to place a king on the High throne of Britain with ties to both religions. Her faith in the Goddess leads Viviane to orchestrate a series of marriages, births, and deaths that are staggeringly complex. Through her careful planning, the heir to the throne is Arthur, son of the royal blood of Avalon and a Christian king. His marriage to the meek Gwenhwyfar serves two purposes: her dowry includes horses and soldiers (Arthur combines the two for a brilliant wartime strategy) and it leaves the position of Queen, with which Arthur is willing to share counsel, weak. Viviane plans for Morgaine, Arthur's half-sister, to step in and gain influence over Arthur's dealings with the Christians and make sure he upholds the oath he swore to respect both religions when Avalon placed him on the throne. This is where Viviane's plans go awry. In order to gain a hold over Arthur, Viviane brings the half-siblings together during the ritual of the "Great Marriage to the Earth" during Arthur's kingmaking. The two have not seen each other since childhood and are disguised in the tradition's elaborate costumes so Arthur and Morgaine do not recognize each other. They make love in ritual splendor. The next morning, however, the two realize the truth. Viviane had not counted on the shame Morgaine felt after learning she was pregnant with her half-brother's son. Their child represents the last hope for the preservation of Avalon, but the priests will never recognize him as heir and Morgaine's shame prevents her from wresting power away from them in Arthur's court. By the time Morgaine realizes her mistake and seeks to regain the strength of Avalon and the Goddess, decades have passed and it may be too late. Just recently, The Mists of Avalon was converted to a made-for-TV movie. While the visuals were exciting and it became easier to see the costumes in my mind as I read, the producers took quite a few liberties with the story and some significant changes were made. To me the end result seemed a bit confusing, but movies are rarely better than the books on which they are based. If the commercials intrigued you, but you missed the movie or didn't like it very much, I highly recommend making the investment in actually reading the book. The Mists of Avalon is filled with incredible imagery and fascinating historical interpretations. It definitely requires a time commitment; the story, while well-told, is complicated and not one you can just breeze through. The Mists is absorbing, however, and certainly worth the investment of a few weeks of summer reading. Just be sure to pad the strap of your beach bagmy shoulder is still sore from the weight of this great book. Rebecca James is spending her summer reading, writing, and happily massaging at Rehoboth's Spa by the Sea on Baltimore Ave. She hopes she saved you a few bucks on this book and promises to review a good book next time. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 10, July 27, 2001. |