# XVI: Morgan le Fay explained — A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

> Chapter companion for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain.

## What happens

Hank Morgan and Sandy visit the castle of Morgan le Fay, King Arthur's sister. Hank reflects on his scheme to use soap missionaries to undermine knight errantry and the Church. He meets Morgan, who is beautiful but cruel, as demonstrated when she casually kills a page. Hank's identity as 'The Boss' saves him from imprisonment.

## Themes in this chapter

### Technology vs. Superstition

Hank uses soap and advertising as tools of modernization to undermine superstition and the Church.

### Power and Corruption

Morgan le Fay's absolute power leads to casual murder and tyranny within her castle.

### Religion and Hypocrisy

Hank views the Established Church as a 'slave-pen' and uses soap to subtly attack its authority.

## Character check-ins

### Hank Morgan

Narrator and protagonist; reflects on his soap missionary scheme and meets Morgan le Fay.

### Sandy

Travels with Hank; reveals Hank's identity as 'The Boss' to save them from Morgan's dungeons.

### Morgan le Fay

Hostess; beautiful, cruel, and feared as a sorceress; kills a page without hesitation.

### King Uriens

Morgan's husband; kind-faced but subdued and fearful of his wife.

### Sir Uwaine

Son of Morgan and Uriens; present at the castle.

### La Cote Male Taile

Soap missionary encountered by Hank; failed to sell soap at Morgan's castle.

## Key lines

> If knights errant were to be believed, not all castles were desirable places to seek hospitality in.

Hank notes that knights errant are not trustworthy, so one should be cautious about castles.

_Hank's pragmatic skepticism about medieval hospitality._

> She slipped a dirk into him in as matter-of-course a way as another person would have harpooned a rat!

Morgan le Fay stabbed the page as casually as someone would kill a rat.

_Illustrates Morgan's casual cruelty and lack of remorse._

> It was plain to me that La Cote Male Taile had failed to see the mistress of the house.

Hank realizes that La Cote never actually met Morgan le Fay during his visit.

_Explains why La Cote's soap mission failed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xvi-morgan-le-fay
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters