If you know anything about Merlin, you know he's pretty much a wizard. In the Arthurian legends, Merlin's got supernatural power, and he can use it to make things happen. Like, he can actually make King Uther shapeshift into the Duke of Cornwall—no disguises needed.
But Stewart's Merlin in The Crystal Cave is not that guy. This Merlin makes it clear to everyone around him that his power comes from "the god"—and that he has zero control over it.
Yeah, okay—that's is a lot less impressive than the legendary Merlin we've all come to know and love. But it does make for a more complex character: our Merlin gets his everyday power from being purely clever, and from having a strong moral compass.
It's not an easy job. Haters like Uther find the unpredictability of Merlin's supernatural connections enraging. One thing's for sure: putting yourself in the "path of the god" has its consequences, as Merlin learns by the disastrous end of this book.
Questions About Supernatural
- How does Stewart describe or characterize Merlin's supernatural powers? In what ways is this surprising?
- Why does Ambrosius say that Merlin should stick with Belasius, even though Belasius is clearly a shady dude?
- How do Niniane's powers differ from Merlin's?
- In what ways do Merlin's supernatural powers give him an advantage over other characters in the book? In what ways do they work against him?
Chew on This
Merlin's real power comes from his scientific knowledge, not from any supernatural abilities.
Merlin's second sight and other supernatural abilities are not personal characteristics; he's really just an agent of Fate.