Manawydan Research Project

Manawydan

1) Manawydan, son of king Llyr is a very prominent warrior hero in welsh, Irish, and English mythology. For the most of his life he served as a chief advisor to his brother, Bendigefrand,, King of Wales. However, when his brother dies in battle during the second part of the Mabinogion, Manawydan and the seven survivors of the battle take his brothers head to London where they buried it. Manawydan mainly comes into play in third part of The Mabinogion which follows his lonely travels between England and Dyved in Wales.

2) Manawydan Son of Llyr, third branch of the Mabinogion

Manawydan is a character in many welsh and Irish stories, including the story Branwen Daughter of Llyr, which we have read. The main story that involves Manawydan is the third part of the Mabinogion, Manawydan son of Llyr.

The third branch of the Mabinogion starts when Manawydan and Prince Pryderi of Dyved are returning to Dyved after Manawydon's long journey to bury his brother's head in London. When they reach home Pryderi is reunited with his wife, and Manawydon falls in love with, and marries Pryderi's mother Rhiannon. However, a horrible curse falls on the land and everyone but the four main characters of the story disappear along with all of the domestic animals.

Manawydan and his companions survive by hunting the wild animals in the area. After a while, however, they grew weary and decided to move to England, where they made shoes of such high quality that the other workers grew jealous and drove them back to Dyved.

In Dyved, Manawydan and Pryderi find a mysterious castle. Pryderi enters the castle but never comes out. When Manawydan returns to the women and tells his story, Rhiannon goes in after her son only to find his sitting in the middle of the castle clutching a giant bowl. She then comes to the same fate and the castle disappears. Manawydan and Cigfa, Pryderi's wife, once again attempt to settle in England and are again driven back to Dyved. This time they decide to farm wheat. Before they can harvest the wheat, though, he first and second fields of wheat disappeared. Manawydan then stood out all night in front of the final field and when it started to disappear he spotted three mice, and apprehended one of them. he decided to hang the mouse for stealing, but before he could do it the next day a man appeared and offered him anything just to save the mouse's life. Manawydan choose that all that had disappeared should reappear. the stranger agreed and everything came back including the prince and Rhiannon.


3) Analysis

Manawydan, in all of his great stories and deeds, is never a true leader such as his brother Bran was. He is more of a hero, and an advisor. Whilst his brother is king he is loyal, in sharp contrast to his other brother Eifnisen, and a superb advisor on many important decisions. However, once his brother dies in combat, Manawydan travels with the seven other men to bury Bran's head, he doesn't lead them so much as advise and caution them on the right course to take.

Even in the third branch of the Mabinogion that is named after him, Manawydan isn't a leader. He advises Pryderfi not to enter the castle but doesn't command him, as a king would have. He doesn't lead his companions around to all of their endeavors he just goes with them.

4) Reflection

I believe that Manawydan is more of an epic hero than a king or god. He is involved in some of the greatest stories of the ancient times, and even has one about himself. However, he is never king and never leads anyone. He takes orders, like a good warrior, and he is very loyal, another trait of a quality warrior. I think that Manawydan calls for attention less than his brothers do. Eifnesien causes trouble and gets attention. Bran can make himself the size of a mountain to attract the attention of anyone. Manawydan, however, never needs this. He doesn't have the drive to be in the center, shown by how he so easily leaves England when the other craftsman try to drive them out.

6) Literary device

"When the seven men we spoke of above had buried the head of Bendigeidfran in the White Mount in London, with its face towards France, Manawydan looked upon the town, in London, and on his companions, and heaved a great sigh. and felt much grief and longing within him. 'Alas, Almighty God, woe is me,' said he, 'there is none save me without a place for him this night." Mobinogion, Branch Three.
In this quote from the third branch of the Mabinogion, the author uses a very tone that is very sad, and lonely. She is trying to create the sense that now that Manawydan has buried his brother, he feels that he has no more purpose in life. She portrays how sorrowful he really is.