theeffects she a woman could have on the political situation of nations was clearly establishedby Phillip’s war with England.The social context in which this novel was written is also very important when itcomes to analysing the way in which a character such as Morgan is portrayed. The RomanCatholic church was using its power to manipulate the rulers of the European nations,especially through the crusades. The Pope Gregory IX excommunicated Frederick II ofthe Holy Roman Empire because he would not lead a crusade when the pope demandedthat he do so. This power that belonged to the Roman Catholic Church influenced theliterature of the day, especially in the sense that literature was often used to criticiseRoman Catholic teachings. The morals that the Roman Catholic Church enforced upon itsfollowers was fiercely protested by French authors of the middle ages. A recurring themein this literature is that love cannot exist inside the boundaries of arranged marriages. Thisis exemplified in Mort Artu, when Morgan reveals her knowledge of Guenivere andLancelet. Mort Artu also presents a view on religious freedom, especially throughMorgan. Morgan is shown in Mort Artu to be a very positive character and she isportrayed in a very good light, though she is a sorceress. Had the author agreed withRoman Catholic ideas, Morgan would have been shown as an evil and cruel character.This cultural factor contributes significantly to the depiction of Morgan Le Fay in MortArtu. In Le Morte d’Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory presents a very negative view ofMorgan Le Fay and she is shown as an evil character who only wants to harm Arthur.Cultural and historical factors have also influenced this depiction of Morgan and theArthurian legend. The fifteenth century in England was a time of political uncertainty andanarchy. England had lost its hold in France, largely due to the pursuits of a young ladynamed Joan of Arc, who seemed to have some sort of mystical...
