One of the most well-known Celtic literature pieces is The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. This is a Welsh book with four stories, each one independent of the other but rely on each other for clues, has been told over the centuries. What century the story has originated in, the 11th or 12th, is unknown but it has helped to shape traditions and Welsh culture. There are some aspects that are said to be part Welsh history, but with a twist.
The Mabinogi is all about the otherworld. Where this other world is is unknown, but when the king found the prince of the otherworld, he was not shocked. A deal was made, one where they would switch places for a year and rule in eachothers place. The story is made of honor and respect, just like nobles should behave. This story helps to lead those who listen to it on a path of integrity. Once the men return to their normal places the king found a lady for whom he become desperate to know. This lady was ever elusive and was evading him until he finally asked her to stop. Sing politeness will go along way instead of trying to take without reason. The lady whom he stopped was the is the daughter of a lord from the otherworld. She had fallen in loved with him from a rumor, and he fell for her after meeting her once. This type of love is magical in itself. Among magical love, there are character with magic like qualities. The is a son born of Sage, the king, and Rhionnon but was taken away at birth. The son was a strong as a grown man and mature as one by the age of one. This is truly unique since children cannot grow at such a rate.
The story ends when the child is taken in by a lowly family in land. The second branch begins with the Crowe Family. The father is the Ocean, the son is Benedict Crowe, who is a giant, and the daughter is Blanche Crowe. The King of Ireland wanted to marry Blanche. Once they arrived in Ireland, Blanche was treated well for the first year. After she become pregnant, she become persecuted by those that once loved her. They started rumors that she was the reason for the king’s misfortune while picking up Blanche. Blanche was then persecuted to live a life of a peasant, but Blanche was not determined to right the wrong done to her. She found a bird and taught language and trained it to find her brother. She did show forgiveness and tried to make sure a whole country was no persecuted for a few people’s mistake. That was not possible and only 5 pregnant women remained. This is so astronomical to believe that a whole country can be left dead by a giant that is the son of the Ocean. Amongst the magic, great lessons are to be learned. Making the lessons more enjoyable makes it easier to follow without feeling as is a person has been forced into an act.
The second branch ends with the starting of a party that lasts 80 years. The third branch starts with Carey, the son of Sage and Rhionnon, a love match almost magical. However, Carey did not last past the fourth branch. He was killed by man who held of virgins in order to live. His virgins were raped and so Lord Good punished the men who dishonored him by making one into a doe and a stag for one year, during which they will conceive a fawn. Next year they were transformed into a bore and sow, during which they will conceive a piglet, and the next year they became a she-wolf and a wolf, during which they will conceive a cub. The lesson to be learned is there is always consequences to actions. Although the consequences from the actions performed in the story is extreme, the moral of the story still stands true. There are always reactions to actions. Magic helps to make the stories progress in a manner in which helps the reader to feel as if they were truly in the otherworld and makes the lessons learned easier to understand.
Cassandra's Celtic Blog 