# Merlin — Cup of Gold character guide

> Merlin in Cup of Gold by John Steinbeck.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Merlin, Old Merlin

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Who they are

An old Welsh bard and storyteller in Henry's childhood village.

## Relationships

### [Henry Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/henry_morgan)

_friendship_

Merlin is a wise, older sailor and mentor figure who advises Henry and shares a deep, philosophical bond with him.

### [Old Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/old_robert)

_friendship_

Merlin and Old Robert are old friends who share memories and a mutual respect, often discussing Henry's fate.

### [Old Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/old_robert)

_friendship_

Merlin and Old Robert are old friends who share memories and a mutual respect, often discussing Henry's fate.

### [Henry Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/henry_morgan)

_friendship_

Merlin is a wise, older sailor and mentor figure who advises Henry and shares a deep, philosophical bond with him.

### [Henry Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/henry_morgan)

_friendship_

Merlin is a wise, older sailor and mentor figure who advises Henry and shares a deep, philosophical bond with him.

### [Old Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/old_robert)

_friendship_

Merlin and Old Robert are old friends who share memories and a mutual respect, often discussing Henry's fate.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/i)

An old seer who prophesies Henry's future.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/i)

The wise man on the crag-top whom Old Robert asks Henry to visit before leaving.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/iii)

The old poet and bard, living in a round stone house, shares wisdom about dreams, failure, and greatness, and bids Henry farewell.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/iv)

Referenced as having given Henry a first speech; now described by William as an old molted eagle who no longer makes songs.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as someone Henry spoke with; Henry says Merlin talked of things not in his belief.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/ii)

Referenced as having spoken truth long ago about Morgan's loneliness in success.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/vi)

Receives Old Robert at Crag-top, muses on mortality, the nature of dreams, and shares his own story of losing his wings through ridicule.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned in Henry's dying thoughts as 'herding dreams in Avalon.'

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters/merlin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cup_of_gold_se/characters