Merlin
The court magician, whose fame Hank sets out to destroy with gunpowder and science.
He wants his old place at court back from the stranger who took it.
The book
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Mark Twain
Who they are in the book
Spoiler-freeMerlin is Hank's rival from the first day. Hank treats him as an old fraud, and for most of the book he seems to be one. He is still standing at the end.
How Merlin Is Portrayed
- The towerIn Chapter VII Merlin tries to guard his tower with spells during a thunderstorm. Hank waves his arms three times, and the gunpowder he has hidden inside, wired to a lightning rod, blows the tower apart.
- The Valley of HolinessIn Chapter XXIII Merlin fails to restart the holy fountain with spells. Hank fixes the pump and puts on a show with rockets.
- Cooking in disguiseIn Chapter XLIV an old peasant woman offers to cook for the men in the cave. Clarence later finds out she was Merlin.
- The spellIn Chapter XLIV Merlin makes passes over Hank's sleeping face and says he will sleep thirteen centuries. Then he laughs, stumbles into an electric wire and dies.
Merlin quotes
He sleepeth now—and shall sleep thirteen centuries. I am Merlin!
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