Knowledge is power, folks—just ask Mary Stewart. In fact, her version of Merlin in The Crystal Cave relies more on his brains and his education than he ever does on magic. He doesn't play around.
Stewart's focus on Merlin's education shows that he's on a different level from his fellow early-medieval peeps. Yeah, he believes in Fate and "the god," but Merlin isn't about to fall prey to the superstitions that make Vortigern's priests look so utterly stupid.
Don't get us wrong: divine inspiration is a major part of Merlin's smarts. He has "second sight," which means that he has greater insight into things that most of us can't even see—things like, you know, the future, and other people's intentions. He's a wizard, sure—but he's really in his comfort zone with science, not spells.
Questions About Wisdom and Knowledge
- How does Merlin regard his supernatural powers? How is this different from how he views scientific knowledge?
- What is the most important thing that Galapas teaches Merlin? Why is it so important?
- Why does Ambrosius seem to value Merlin's "magic" more than his natural intelligence and his education?
- In what ways does Merlin's intelligence affect how he interacts with other people? How does it affect the way others react to him?
Chew on This
Merlin views knowledge as a kind of legacy that can give immortality to those who teach.
Knowledge may equal power in Stewart's book, but most of her characters think of "book smarts" as a seriously unmanly trait.