Who Pushed Merlin

The most important and knowledgeable people in history are not born with their

talents or contributions.  They, as everyone does, need a person to give them the option

and the encouragement to achieve their fate.  In The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart portrays

the life of Merlin, the main character, as he grows into a reputable individual of the time.

Merlin begins his childhood as a boy who not many care for.  Through the help of some

important people, such as Tremorinus, Galapas, and Ambrosius, Merlin develops into a

intellectual and knowledgeable individual.

Sometimes all it takes to advance in knowledge is a little space.  Merlin is already

a knowledgeable man when he meets Tremorinus, a master engineer, who openly

welcomes Merlin into his workshop.  Merlin remarks on how Tremorinus, "allows me

to learn all I can from him, gives me space in the workshops and material to

experiment with." (181).   Merlin is able to learn a myriad of information while in

Tremorinus' presence.  This space that Tremorinus gives Merlin is the right tool to entitle

Merlin to advance intellectually.  

Some mentors provide the space for knowledge to grow, but others are more

effective because they set the foundation for the knowledge to develop.  The personage

who is the most efficacious and who bestows the true idea of knowledge on Merlin is

Galapas.  One day Merlin travels through the forest and stumbles on what looks like an

inhabited cave.  In the cave Merlin meets Galapas for the first time.  Galapas teaches

Merlin an innumerable amount of information, but he, "hardly thought of [his] time with

him as lessons."  (54).  The information that Merlin receives is more useful than the

subjects of languages and geometry that he learns from Demetrius, his first tutor.  Merlin

learns how to; collect herbs for medicine, study dead animals to learn of their organs,

stop bleeding, set broken bones, and cleanse a wound to stop infection.  Merlin loves his

visits with Galapas.  Merlin states, "Whenever I could, once and sometimes twice in the

week, I rode up the valley to the cave."  (53).   The spark of interest, to obtain

knowledge, that Galapas creates develops Merlin into the knowledgeable individual he is

known to be.

       Many people contribute to the intellectual development of an individual,

but others provide the rare opportunities to procure this wisdom.  Ambrosius provides

Merlin the chance to obtain much knowledge from his teachers and from his own

experiences.  Ambrosius arranges for Belasius, a proficient mathematician and

astronomer, to tutor Merlin.  Belasius challenges Merlin by giving him difficult problems

to solve.  Merlin comments on how he, "walked through the problems he set me as if the

field of knowledge were an open meadow with a pathway leading plain across it for all to

see." (135).  Merlin excels at the effective challenges Belasius presents him.  These

challenges are an effective way for Merlin to learn difficult subjects.  Belasius also

inadvertently introduces Merlin into other aspects of different and secret cultures.  One

day Merlin stumbles onto Belasius and others performing a sacrifice for their secret and

illegal religion.  Merlin should be punished because he observes this ritual, but

Ambrosius allows him to do as he chooses so Merlin can find his one true God.

Ambrosius also allows Merlin the personal freedom to adventure on his own to achieve

knowledge through his own experiences.  Merlin has permission to walk around the town

and speak to and learn from whoever he likes.  One idea he is curious about is how the

"standing stones," (182), were lifted into place.  Merlin discovers the answer from a blind

man who sings songs to the public.  Merlin learns information from the songs of the blind

man on a variety of subjects including, "...the men of old who had raised the standing

stones."  (184).  Sometimes the access to knowledge and the gift of personal freedom are

all it takes to develop one's true character and Merlin's true character is of an intelligent

human being.

Merlin is a remarkable individual who survives the steep climb on the journey of

life.  He is able to endure this quest because of the influence of particular people.  Their

influence help Merlin become a knowledgeable individual who has an everlasting

position in the Arthurian Legend.  Merlin has talents and unique characteristics which

everyone can look upon with respect and admiration.