Editing Efnysien (section)

==Character analysis==

Described variously by modern scholars as "warped",<ref>Davies, Sioned. ''The Mabinogion''. Oxford University Press, 2005.</ref> "perverted",<ref>Davies, Sioned. ''The Four Branches of the Mabinogi: Pedeir Keincy Mabinogi'' (Llandysul, 1993).</ref> "malicious",<ref>Tolstoy, Nikolai. ''The Oldest British Prose Literature: The Compilation of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi''</ref> and "psychopathic",<ref>Breeze, Andrew. ''Medieval Welsh Literature''.</ref> Efnysien is often considered to be one of the most vivid and interesting characters to appear in the [[Four Branches of the Mabinogi|four branches]].<ref>Gantz, Jeffrey (Ed.) (1976), ''The Mabinogion''.</ref> Referring to Efnysien's atrocities throughout the tale, Will Parker writes:
{{quote|The rage here is calculated, as is the horrific orgy of violence that follows. His actions are deliberately staged to inflict the most profound damage to the weak points of the social fabric around him - in this case relations with the men of Ireland. While he is in some ways an embodiment of the forces of anti-social disruption the author is targeting throughout the Mabinogi - there is also the hint complex inner life, which finds a poignant expression in his final demise.<ref>Parker, Will.''The Four Branches of the Mabinogi: Celtic Myth and Medieval Reality''. Bardic Press, 2005.</ref>}}
Jeffrey Gantz describes him as, "[T]he controlling force of ''Branwen'',...a story all by himself: progressively insecure and envious, cruel and sadistic, clever and resourceful, repentant and self-sacrificing."<ref>Gantz, Jeffrey (Ed.) (1976),''The Mabinogion''.</ref>

The character has been compared to other [[trickster]] figures, such as the [[Irish mythology|Irish]] hero [[Bricriu|Bricriu Nemthenga]] and the [[Norse mythology|Norse]] god [[Loki]]. [[Nikolai Tolstoy]] describes Efnisien as "the gallant if peevish Briton who selflessly sacrifices himself for his comrades", while he is characterised by Proinsias Mac Cana as a force of "irrational malice and hate".