I am like most here in the US that were raised to believe that Merlin was a good guy and wanted to help Arthur, but after spending time here on Chrons and researching English, French and Norse Arthurian lore, I don't think the Merlin character was ever intended to be a good guy. Good in helping Arthur maybe, but with darker motives for his own gain.
I like the updated interpterion that @Lafayette referenced, in that not everything is about sex. I just might want you to stop talking and/or asking questions! A very human felling that happens every day.
We touched on this in the Chronscast about the film Excalibur.
What Merlin's ultimate motivation was seems to have been a bit vague, but he was certainly not above manipulating people to achieve his ends. Arthur was conceived, of course, by a rape enabled by Merlin's magical deception.
My interpretation of Merlin is that he is neither 'good' nor 'bad' in any sense relating to human behaviour. He is a manipulator and an agitator; a catalyst for change. Much in the same way that the wizards are in LOTR. They have their own agenda.
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