性別化的魔法與梅林的崛起/墮落：（男）同性社會性紐帶的建構

Magic as Gendered Knowledge in Merlin's Rise and Fall: A Discourse on Male Homosocial Bonding

在西方文化，巫師梅林常被當作智慧的象徵。在摩利理爵士的亞瑟王之死一書中，梅林的智慧尤其展現在政治遠見和權謀上。他的才智甚至被神秘化成魔法。在亞瑟王之死中，魔法是建構梅林正面巫師形象的要素。他首先被描繪成亞瑟王的智囊和守護者，因為他的協助，亞瑟王統一了分裂的王國。在這個角色建構中，梅林的魔法被性別化為男／陽剛，恰與其他女巫師的魔法形成二元對立（陰／陽；惡／善；女／男）。再者，梅林的魔法也促進了圓桌騎士們的情誼和同性紐帶關係的建立。然而，隨著故事進展，梅林卻被陰弱化。雖然梅林的魔法在（亞瑟王王國）男同性社會扮演著正面力量，它卻也弔詭地將梅林排除在（男）同性社會性紐帶經濟體之外。此外，在他追求妮薇中，梅林的魔法是被置位於女／陰弱／惡的位階，因為他以魔法為籌碼希冀能換取妮薇的貞操。梅林違反了作為一個正面巫師的道德要求。最後，他死在妮薇的手中。從（男）同性社會性結構的觀點解讀，梅林的死體現了一個（男）同性社會性結構運作的矛盾情況，這個弔詭說明了異性戀做為男性主體意識建構的必然標記和（男）同性社會性關係之間某種程度的不相容。

The fictional character, 'Merlin', has been widely accepted as an icon of 'wisdom' in Western culture. In Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, the representation of Merlin's intellect is especially manifested in political foresight and acumen. Merlin's intellectual masculinity is potent enough to be mystified as magic. In Malory, magic is a significant factor in the valorization and emasculation of Merlin within the economy of male bonding. Merlin is initially portrayed as a positive magician whose magic is discursively moralized and gendered as masculine. Through his supernatural prowess, the divided Britain is united and Arthur's court of chivalry is fostered. Merlin's magic also contributes to enact and cement bonds among Arthurian knights. As the narrative progresses, however, Merlin is feminized. Despite that Merlin's magic functions as a positive force in the Arthurian male homosocial realm, it excludes Merlin from the Arthurian economy of male bonding. Further, in his pursuit of Nimue, Merlin's magic is gendered feminine because he abuses his magical knowledge as currency to buy Nimue's virginity. Merlin fails to hold himself to the high standard required of a positive magician. He is feminized and punished by 'shameful death' at the hands of Nimue. Viewed through the lens of male homosociality, Merlin's death is a result of the paradoxical functioning of male homosocial bonding, which occurs when the demands of heterosexual love clash with those of male homosocial bonds and obligations.