Deirdre in Women in Celtic Myth

Celtic

Summary and Analysis of "Deirdre" in Women in Celtic Myth by Moyra Caldecott

Deirdre of the Sorrows," in Celtic mythology, is a tale of a woman whose true love creates deep-seated hatred between royal and military men. This hatred results in death, not simply the death of the men warring over the woman, but of the woman herself. Moreover, their sorrowful end comes not because of Deirdre's own will, but because of her prophesized destiny. Even when she was born, Deirdre's fate was foretold with ill omens. It is foretold that Deirdre must never marry a king; else disaster would occur to the men and to the woman herself. Still, because of Deirdre's beauty, because she was the fairest Irishwoman of the land, Deirdre becomes the intended bride of the hero Conchobar, the King of Ulster at the time. Deirdre did not want to marry a king, fearing the worst, but he insisted, in flagrant defiance of fate.

However, Deirdre did not love the king and feared the prophesy on her head. Hence, she eloped with No'si, a hero of the warriors of the Red Branch, a band founded by Conchobar. An order from the jealous Conchobar to kill Noisi presented itself to Deirdre in the shape of three ravens. Despite these omens, Noisi was killed, along with his brothers. The subsequent death of Noisi and his brothers at Conchobhar's hand resulted in Deirdre's decision to commit suicide as a result of her sorrows and the sorrows she caused for Ulster and the Red Branch.