The Black Cauldron (novel)

Did You Know?

• The series was inspired by Welsh mythology and by the castles, scenery, and language of Wales, which the author experienced during World War II combat intelligence training.
• At one stage of planning, the series was a trilogy with titles The Battle of the Trees, The Lion with the Steady Hand, and Little Gwion.

Plot

More than a year after the defeat of Arawn Death-Lord's army and the death of his warlord the Horned King, Prince Gwydion calls allies to a council hosted by Dallben. Men are disappearing throughout Prydain, while the undead Cauldron-Born have increased in Arawn's forces. Gwydion reveals a plan to steal the Black Cauldron from Arawn. King Morgant will lead the main attack on Annuvin, while a smaller raiding party led by Gwydion enters by a mountain pass known only to Coll to steal the cauldron undetected. Three men remain as rearguard: Adaon, Taran, and Ellidyr, Prince of Pen-Llarcau. Ellidyr disdains Taran for his unknown parentage, and Taran envies Ellidyr's noble birth. The raiders find the cauldron missing and flee the Huntsmen of Annuvin. Princess Eilonwy and Gurgi catch up. Gwydion and Coll are split off, but the others find refuge with Gwystyl, who reveals the cauldron was stolen by the witches Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch in the Marshes of Morva. Ellidyr rides south alone. Adaon leads Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi, Doli, and Fflewddur Fflam in pursuit. Adaon is mortally wounded, and Taran inherits his prophetic brooch. Taran leads the group through the Marshes, luring Huntsmen to their deaths.

Analysis

Melody Green analyzes The Black Cauldron through René Girard's description of the trope of scapegoating. Ellidyr's death is like a final scapegoat, argues Girard. The black cauldron, which reanimates corpses, can only be destroyed from the inside by someone who dies in the process. While the scapegoat figure is normally innocent, Ellidyr is not; his willingness to be a sacrifice is more important. Ellidyr is made an outsider by his jealousy and pride. He leaves the group, then later tries to claim he alone retrieved the cauldron. After the group is captured by another lord, Ellidyr sacrifices himself to destroy the cauldron. His sacrifice transforms his selfishness into selflessness, and Taran and Gwydion determine that through losing his life, he gained honor.

Adaptations

In 1985, Walt Disney Productions released a loose animated adaptation of The Black Cauldron. The movie drew mostly from the first two books in the Prydain series, with some elements from the others. It holds the distinction of being the final Disney film before the company reorganized to create Walt Disney Feature Animation, and it was also the studio's first movie to receive a PG rating in the United States. Commercially, the film was a disappointment, as its earnings failed to cover its production costs. Author Lloyd Alexander noted that the movie bore no resemblance to his novel, yet he still found it enjoyable on its own terms. A computer video game of the same name followed in 1986.