![]() ![]() In A Wizard of Earthsea, every act of magic distorts the equilibrium of the world, which in turn has far-reaching consequences that can affect the entire world and everything in it. : 142 Other forms of magic are limited by consequences that, while not inherently dangerous, are at least undesirable. Magic may also be limited by its danger if a powerful spell can cause grave harm if miscast, wizards are likely to be wary of using it. The extent of a wizard's knowledge is limited to which spells a wizard knows and can cast. Even if the magician lacks scruples, obtaining the material may be difficult. Magic can also require various sacrifices or the use of certain materials, such as gemstones, blood, or a live sacrifice. : 942 A common limit invented by Jack Vance in his The Dying Earth series, and later popularized in role-playing games is that a wizard can only cast a specific number of spells in a day. : 616 In Larry Niven's The Magic Goes Away, once an area's mana is exhausted, no one can use magic. To introduce conflict, writers of fantasy fiction often place limits on the magical abilities of wizards to prevent them from solving problems too easily. Terry Pratchett described robes as a magician's way of establishing to those they meet that they are capable of practicing magic. In the Dragonlance campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, wizards show their moral alignment by their robes. ![]() This depiction predates the modern fantasy genre, being derived from the traditional image of wizards such as Merlin. Wizards are often depicted as old, white-haired, and with long white beards majestic enough to occasionally host lurking woodland creatures. : 140–141 Even comical wizards are often capable of great feats, such as those of Miracle Max in The Princess Bride although he is a washed-up wizard fired by the villain, he saves the dying hero. They can also be capable of great magic, both good or evil. Wizards can be cast similarly to the absent-minded professor: being foolish and prone to misconjuring. ![]() Such heroes may have their own mentor, a wizard as well. This theme has been further developed in modern fantasy, often leading to wizards as heroes on their own quests. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea explored the question of how wizards learned their art, introducing to modern fantasy the role of the wizard as protagonist. : 193 Villainous sorcerers were so crucial to pulp fantasy that the genre in which they appeared was dubbed " sword and sorcery". : 637 Other magicians, such as Saruman from The Lord of the Rings or Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter, can appear as hostile villains. : 195 Wizards such as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter are also featured as mentors, and Merlin remains prominent as both an educative force and mentor in modern works of Arthuriana. In medieval chivalric romance, the wizard often appears as a wise old man and acts as a mentor, with Merlin from the King Arthur stories being a prime example. The Enchanter Merlin, by Howard Pyle, from The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (1903) ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |