Merlin is one of the main characters in the popular anime and manga series Seven Deadly Sins. She serves as the Boar’s Sin of Gluttony and is a member of the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of powerful knights who were framed for treason against the kingdom of Liones. Despite being a protagonist and one of the “good guys,” Merlin’s morality is complex and she sometimes engages in questionable behavior, leading fans to debate whether she should be considered a villain or anti-hero.
Merlin’s Role in Seven Deadly Sins
Merlin is a powerful mage and adviser to the Kingdom of Liones. She was a mentor to Meliodas, the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins, and was instrumental in helping him establish the group. After the Deadly Sins were framed and went into hiding, Merlin continued serving the kingdom of Liones in secret while also helping the Sins behind the scenes. She plays a key role in reuniting the Sins and clearing their names after a decade in hiding.
Throughout the story, Merlin provides magical aid and wisdom to Meliodas and the Sins. She is portrayed as extremely intelligent and calculating, and often knows more than she reveals. Merlin believes that emotions like camaraderie and compassion should not get in the way of making difficult decisions. She values knowledge and power above all else.
Reasons Some Consider Merlin a Villain
While Merlin is technically on the “good” side with the Seven Deadly Sins, there are a few compelling reasons why some fans view her as a villain or anti-hero:
- She originally served as an adviser to the demon lord, revealed later to be Meliodas’ father. This connection makes her origins morally ambiguous.
- Merlin tends to manipulate people and situations to achieve her own ends. For example, she allowed the Deadly Sins to be framed for treason, knowing she could reunite them later when they were needed.
- She experimented on former ally Vivian, turning her into a snake-like monster. This act was seen as cruel and villainous.
- Merlin has betrayed allies before when it suited her purposes. She values knowledge above the bonds of friendship.
- She is known to spy on people close to her to gather information that might be useful later.
- Her motivations are not always clear. She seems to follow her own mysterious agenda at times.
Based on traits like these, it’s understandable why some fans see Merlin as more of an anti-hero or morally grey character than a traditional protagonist.
Reasons Supporting Merlin as a Protagonist
However, there are also strong arguments that Merlin firmly belongs on the side of the protagonists in Seven Deadly Sins:
- Despite betraying them, she reunites the Sins when they are needed most to save Liones.
- She continues to provide magical aid, wisdom and guidance to help the Sins succeed in their missions.
- Merlin often works behind the scenes to support Meliodas and Elizabeth’s efforts against larger villains like the Demon Clan.
- She seems to genuinely care about Meliodas, despite manipulating him at times.
- Merlin’s experiments and morally questionable actions are aimed at the greater purpose of acquiring knowledge and power to combat threats against Britannia.
- She helps train and empower members of the next generation like Arthur, teaching them skills that will help the greater good.
While Merlin has flaws, makes mistakes, and can be cutthroat, she ultimately does support and enable the protagonists of the story in their fight against evil. Her role is arguably more akin to an anti-hero than a true villain.
Merlin’s True Alignment and Nature
So is Merlin evil or good? The truth about her alignment and motivations is complex:
- She is not fully evil, as she does not seek to harm others for no reason and generally supports the “good” side.
- However, she is not a traditional hero either – she is willing to betray allies and acts amorally if needed to gain more knowledge and power.
- Merlin values knowledge above all else. She sometimes pursues it to the detriment of relationships, innocents, or allies.
- Her end goal seems to be acquiring enough wisdom and magic to counter the threats facing Britannia and mankind. But her methods can be ruthless.
- She marches to the beat of her own drum and has her own hidden agenda at times.
Overall, Merlin is best categorized as a neutral or morally grey character who doesn’t fit cleanly into a “hero” or “villain” box:
- She shares qualities of both allies and antagonists.
- Her desire for knowledge drives her to sometimes commit morally questionable acts.
- Merlin ultimately seems to want to do right by her allies and mankind, but on her own terms.
While characters like the Demon Lord are clear villains, Merlin is a complex figure who cannot be neatly categorized. Her ambiguous nature is part of what makes her story arc so fascinating.
Conclusion
Merlin’s role in Seven Deadly Sins defies a simple hero or villain classification. She toes the line between ally and antagonist, depending on what suits her motives in any given scenario. Her thirst for knowledge and magical power lead her to commit acts that some view as villainous. However, she also provides vital aid to Meliodas and the Sins in their fight against evil. Ultimately, Merlin is best considered a neutral or morally ambiguous character whose complexity makes her one of the most fascinating figures in the series.