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Mabinogi Rhiannon woman of power & her kindred; literary, political, thealogical, arts, & structural perspectives / SHAN MORGAIN

Swansea University Author: SHAN MORGAIN

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.69097

Abstract

The study asks 'Who is Rhiannon?', building a portrait of her personage, through multiple perspectives across centuries. Rhiannon sources in the pioneering prose revolution Pedeir Cainc y Mabinogi, c. 1100. In this work of genius 'Mabinogi Rhiannon' develops from oral traditions...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: James, Christine ; McAvoy, Liz ; Llwyd, Alan ; Bohata, Kirsti
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69097
Abstract: The study asks 'Who is Rhiannon?', building a portrait of her personage, through multiple perspectives across centuries. Rhiannon sources in the pioneering prose revolution Pedeir Cainc y Mabinogi, c. 1100. In this work of genius 'Mabinogi Rhiannon' develops from oral traditions through manuscripts, print format and 21stC electronics; gaining mythological, literary, and arts interpretations along with political implications. As a leading Mabinogi protagonist, Rhiannon functions as a substantial Mabinogi spine, or 'tour guide'.Three principles govern the study.1. It benefits from the 1970s/1980s paradigm shift, approaching the Mabinogi as predominantly coherent; an intricately layered literature. 'Trusting the text' is primary: commentary is ‘unfolding’, not reconstruction.Feminist perspectives, emergent in the same period, are routine.2.Multiple perspectives draw on broad, supplementary data, building not a monomyth but a mosaic of political, economic, psychological, literary, arts, mythological and structural approaches.3.The Mabinogi is regarded as invaluable Welsh heritage of international significance. Rhiannon as Welsh is respected by plentiful Welsh content: title, subtitles, key terms, and quotes.Rhiannon’s romance is deconstructed to an elite marchoges/ equestrian noblewoman of pragmatic ambitions. Her speech and acts analysis finds dominant assertiveness in her negessau /purposes, but also intense maternal vulnerability. Characteristically embedded in relationships (hybrid personal/political), Rhiannon is male oriented. Her ‘maternal dyad’ is found central to her narrative, and to Desolation aetiology.Rhiannon is presented as a Mabinogi Magician with three paradoxical hudiau/ enchantments. Rhiannon Duwies/ Goddess appears rich in thealogies: Horse-, Mother-, Sun-, Muse-, Initiation-Goddess; Descent cycle, bodhisattva, ambivalence and symbiosis.Structural analyses array a wealth of interlacings and triplicities. Modern adaptations inspire young women with Rhiannon's strength, reflecting my suggested interpretation of mabinogi as 'about the young'.Deconstruction done, Rhiannon remains romantic, a ‘strong woman’, a plausible divinity; above all a mediaeval Welsh noblewoman and a mother.
Item Description: ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3785-0467
Keywords: Mabinogi, mabinogi, mab, Four Branches, Pedeir Cainc y Mabinogi, PKM, MabinogiStudies, Mabinogion, Cymraeg, medieval Welsh, Middle Welsh, medieval Wales,sarhaed, Welsh law, Welsh literature, Welsh prose, Welsh politics, politics, political,Anglocentrism, Welsh mythology, mythology, mythological reconstruction, realism,Coherence Paradigm, Celtic, Celt, Celtic mythology, Goddess, Duwies, Horse Goddess,Epona, Mother Goddess, Sun Goddess, Muse, Magician, magic, Annwfn, Dyfed,Arberth, Rhiannon, Riannon, rhi, marchoges, marchogion, Pwyll, Pryderi, MaternalDyad, feminism, feminist, woman, women, Pughe, William Owen Pughe, Guest,Charlotte Guest, Anwyl, Edward Anwyl, William John Gruffydd, Bollard, John Bollard,Sioned Davies, cyfarwydd, storytelling, story-telling
College: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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