Camlach

Character Analysis

A Classic Villain

Camlach, Merlin's scheming uncle, is a total villain. He's so villainous that Mary Stewart gave him the full-out villain fashion statement: "Later I was to discover that he always wore black; he had jewels on his hands and at his shoulder, and beside his father he looked lightly built and young, but as sharp and whippy as a fox" (1.15.13).

In this case, appearances are not deceiving—even if Young Merlin is deceived by Camlach's first friendly approach to him: "Come, Merlinus, and talk to me while I bathe in your cold Welsh water. We princes must get to know one other" (I.1.43).

We have to believe that Camlach's affection for Merlin here is genuine—indeed, Merlin hears as much as he crawls around underneath the house later that night. But soon it becomes clear to Camlach that Merlin poses a threat to his ambitions to the throne of South Wales.

After that, there's no amount of family love that will keep Camlach from getting rid of the next contender to the throne. For Merlin, Camlach's attempt on his life is painful because it's a betrayal from the only man who has ever accepted him (except Cerdic). Basically, Camlach's attitude toward Merlin takes a 180 after his poisoned apricot trick fails:

"Keep away from me after this, you devil's brat. Do you hear me? Just keep away." (I.2.107)

Personally, we don't think Camlach gets to be mad at the fact that his assassination attempt went wrong. He's definitely the bad guy in this scenario.

A Shady, Shady Prince

Camlach's betrayal of Merlin is bad enough. But wait—there's more. When Merlin has his vision of his grandfather's deathbed, he listens in on the conversation between Camlach, Niniane, and the other courtiers who are there.

There's a shocking moment when everyone in the room turns their attention to a bloody dagger hanging by Camlach's side. Is that human blood on the dagger? If so, is it the dagger that murdered the king? Camlach is "appalled" by the implication:

"Whose blood did you think?' he asked, still with that lifted lip. "Deer's blood, that's all. When the message came, we had just killed. I was twelve miles off, I and my men." He stared at them, as if daring them to comment. (I.10.39)

So…okay. We can't say for sure that Camlach had anything to do with the death of his father the king. But we can say with a degree of certainty that he had something to do with Cerdic's horrible death—the dagger seems to be the weapon that cut the slave's throat.

In the end, we're left with a shady, unsavory character. No one in Merlin's world sheds a tear when news of Camlach's fall reaches them. And we have to say that we really don't blame them.