Morgause

It's a different sister, even though they have very similar names.

Also, sometimes her name is Anna.

Tough.

Yeah.

Okay.

But less confusing when you're Anna.

You know, sometimes there are so many Amandas in the elementary school that you do have to just come up with a nickname, but Mickey never sticks, and yet.

Sorry, bud.

Everyone knew this, but nobody said it.

Well, time went on, and eventually Arthur had an illegitimate son by his half-sister, Morghaus, a son named Mordred.

But he refused to acknowledge Mordred as his son, even after Mordred became one of the knights of the Round Table himself.

Still, Arthur did not acknowledge him.

Oh, yeah, that's true.

Anyway, he is in the role of the feckless young Gawain, and this is very intentionally going into nature cults, mystery cults, ideas about fertility, and what we have in here is Gawain's mother is a witch, which is conflating the roles of Mergen Le Fay and Morghaus, which is fine.

A lot of the texts do that, too.

On Christmas Day, she sends the Green Knight.

It just pushes it a generation back.

I mean, why is Morgoth like this? And it shifts all blame away from Arthur.

I mean, Arthur's treatment of Mordred is also part of why he is the way that he is.

But not in White's picture.

Well, I think that's

the thing.

Let's not forget what kind of a person Morgause is, right? It's not White's duty to come and be a salvific author who reframes Morgause or gives her an out.

He's allowed to create her as a villain.

Shows that while he's willing to accommodate for her, it's not at his own expense.

Now, after mass, he then returns home, and his mother's quite surprised he'd even gone.

Where have you been?

Mass.

Vanity is the sin we see here, as he takes great care styling his beard.

This further plays in the idea he's the kind of guy who puts a lot of importance into how others see him, which clearly links to his pursuit of status.

His mother does have other plans for him, though.

And while Gawain goes to Arthur's Christmas do, she goes off to engage in a spot of magic.