Post by Draco Fidus on Nov 8, 2013 18:32:37 GMT
Even before the series started Uther Pendragon had been through hell. He had taken Camelot over as a young man; in fact, before he was twenty-one he was King. The amount of strength of mind this must have taken is phenomenal. Even before this his father had gone insane (and we assume died). So to summarise, at the age of twenty-one Uther had cared for his insane father, won a war and become King. Now compare that to Arthur. He was nearly twenty-one in the first episode and was still bullying those who were below him.
Then he fell in love with Ygraine. True love is something that can never be replaced. Despite that he was duty bound to have a male heir. Without one the kingdom would fall at his death, it may have been taken over by tyrants or warlords and his people could have died, so he made the decision to use magic. Nimueh, his friend at this time, agreed to perform the ritual and Uther thought it would be the right thing to do for his kingdom. Unfortunately he didn’t truly understand the magics involved and his wife, his true love died. Now, before people start to say he should have looked up the magic involved, he was young, how many of us have done something stupid without fully looking it up, for example, if you go bungee jumping, would you look up every single risk? No.
The death of his wife, seemingly by his friend caused Uther to fall into pain and grief, he decided to wage war on those who practiced magic. And again I can feel people wanting to moan about how this makes him evil. No. It makes him misguided. Can you truly say you wouldn’t kill someone who you think killed the only person you truly loved if you had the power of a king? I know I would have done something similar in Uthers position.
His son grew up, looking just like his mother, a contrast to the man Uther had become. He had to spend his days knowing everything he had done would be bettered by his son. But rather than hating him for it Uther loved his son. He truly loved him. When Arthur nearly died you see Uther the man return. The raw grief of a father at the seeming loss of his son by the same thing that killed his wife.
He also took in Morgana. The biggest mistake he ever made. He spent his days looking at a girl who was the product of a foolish fling with a woman who was not his wife and now his wife was gone and he had to look upon this daughter, knowing she must never know the truth. But rather than denying her help he took her in and cared for her, as a father should, despite the fact he didn’t need to and the fact she defied him many times. Despite throwing her in the dungeons when she pushed him too far Uther did apologise to Morgana and showed true caring when she nearly died.
When he knew his son would die because of something he did (Excalibur) Uther went to what he thought would be his death to protect his son. Nothing would stop him because he loved his son more than anything. He would give his life for his son, and in the end he did.
Despite his hatred for magic Uther truly cares about his family and his people. When Hunith asked for help he was genuinely saddened that he couldn’t help. But as king he had to make a lot of difficult decisions and they pained him.
Because of the fact he was not born as royalty Uther is very proud. But he swallows that pride to apologise to Gaius when he was truly wrong. This shows that Uther is still a man beneath it all.
At the beginning of series three Uther shows his devotion to his country by going into battle despite the fact he is ill. He strides straight to the front and fights with the last of his strength. Even when hit with an arrow and being treated by Gaius he tries to go out and fight beside his son.
The end of series three shows Uthers fall. His pride is stripped for him but he struggled against Morganas men despite the futility. You see the change in him when Morgana strides out. Everything he had done was being destroyed by the daughter he loved unconditionally. To him it was another betrayal, just like Nimuehs. When she is crowned you can feel the spirit drain from him. His sadness is tangible. Then when she visits him he offers his life for his people.
Uther is a man unafraid to die for that which he cares for. When he does finally die it is saving his son. He finally acted on that which he had said; Arthur was worth more to him than his own life.
To conclude, Uther was a duty bound man who went through almost unimaginable hardship. He cared for his people and despite making terrible mistakes he was a good man.
Then he fell in love with Ygraine. True love is something that can never be replaced. Despite that he was duty bound to have a male heir. Without one the kingdom would fall at his death, it may have been taken over by tyrants or warlords and his people could have died, so he made the decision to use magic. Nimueh, his friend at this time, agreed to perform the ritual and Uther thought it would be the right thing to do for his kingdom. Unfortunately he didn’t truly understand the magics involved and his wife, his true love died. Now, before people start to say he should have looked up the magic involved, he was young, how many of us have done something stupid without fully looking it up, for example, if you go bungee jumping, would you look up every single risk? No.
The death of his wife, seemingly by his friend caused Uther to fall into pain and grief, he decided to wage war on those who practiced magic. And again I can feel people wanting to moan about how this makes him evil. No. It makes him misguided. Can you truly say you wouldn’t kill someone who you think killed the only person you truly loved if you had the power of a king? I know I would have done something similar in Uthers position.
His son grew up, looking just like his mother, a contrast to the man Uther had become. He had to spend his days knowing everything he had done would be bettered by his son. But rather than hating him for it Uther loved his son. He truly loved him. When Arthur nearly died you see Uther the man return. The raw grief of a father at the seeming loss of his son by the same thing that killed his wife.
He also took in Morgana. The biggest mistake he ever made. He spent his days looking at a girl who was the product of a foolish fling with a woman who was not his wife and now his wife was gone and he had to look upon this daughter, knowing she must never know the truth. But rather than denying her help he took her in and cared for her, as a father should, despite the fact he didn’t need to and the fact she defied him many times. Despite throwing her in the dungeons when she pushed him too far Uther did apologise to Morgana and showed true caring when she nearly died.
When he knew his son would die because of something he did (Excalibur) Uther went to what he thought would be his death to protect his son. Nothing would stop him because he loved his son more than anything. He would give his life for his son, and in the end he did.
Despite his hatred for magic Uther truly cares about his family and his people. When Hunith asked for help he was genuinely saddened that he couldn’t help. But as king he had to make a lot of difficult decisions and they pained him.
Because of the fact he was not born as royalty Uther is very proud. But he swallows that pride to apologise to Gaius when he was truly wrong. This shows that Uther is still a man beneath it all.
At the beginning of series three Uther shows his devotion to his country by going into battle despite the fact he is ill. He strides straight to the front and fights with the last of his strength. Even when hit with an arrow and being treated by Gaius he tries to go out and fight beside his son.
The end of series three shows Uthers fall. His pride is stripped for him but he struggled against Morganas men despite the futility. You see the change in him when Morgana strides out. Everything he had done was being destroyed by the daughter he loved unconditionally. To him it was another betrayal, just like Nimuehs. When she is crowned you can feel the spirit drain from him. His sadness is tangible. Then when she visits him he offers his life for his people.
Uther is a man unafraid to die for that which he cares for. When he does finally die it is saving his son. He finally acted on that which he had said; Arthur was worth more to him than his own life.
To conclude, Uther was a duty bound man who went through almost unimaginable hardship. He cared for his people and despite making terrible mistakes he was a good man.
