In this essay I will analyze and discuss the representation of women in the Welsh novel of The Mabinogion, in particular; the representation of the slandered wife, a recurring theme in medieval Welsh literature. I will focus in particular on how women's speech is represented and how their relationships with other women and men are represented. I will also examine the self-government and autonomy of the different female protagonists in the four branches. Over the course of my research I expect to find at least two different portraits of women. One is a strong, influential and confident woman, and the other is a more passive and more stereotypical individual of a maiden in Welsh literature. The first female character whose representation is particularly important in the first and third branches of The Mabinogion is that of Rhiannon. . Rhiannon is a classic character throughout medieval Welsh literature and is a prominent figure throughout The Mabinogion. The name Rhiannon comes from the ancient Celtic name Rigantona meaning great queen (Campbell and Campbell: 2013). The name is also said to resemble the Irish goddesses of Elysium (MacCulloch 2005: para 101). This suggests that by the time we are introduced to Rhiannon she will be dominant and powerful. The first time Rhiannon speaks in the first branch she immediately comes across as a respectful, strong and confident woman. “I will gladly wait, and it would have been better for the horse if you had asked me some time ago!” (Davies 2007: 10) Instead of slowing down when chased, Rhiannon only stops when Pwyll himself addresses her. (Wood 1996: 71). This immediately shows her as a woman who has respect for herself and her status. It also shows how he expects men t... middle of paper... pbell. M, Campbell. T, (2013) Behind the Name – Rhiannon, [accessed 22 May 2014]Davies. S, (2007), The Mabinogion, Oxford, England, Oxford University PressEmrys-Evans. WD, (1978), The Welsh Mabinogion: Telling's and Retellings, Dordrecht, Netherlands, Kluwer Academic PublishersEvans. LD (2012), “Goewin: A Cymric Mabinogion Heroine: Darind, Bold” [accessed 22 May 2014] Ford. P, (2008), 'The Mabinogi and other Medieval Welsh Tales', illustrated, annotated, California United States of America, University of California PressMcKenna. C (2006), The theme of sovereignty in Pwyll, Bulletin Board of Celtic StudiesWood. J, (1996) "The Slandered Wife in Medieval Welsh Literature" in: Sullivan. WC, illustrated, The Mabinogi: A Book of Essays, Sussex, England, Psychology Press pp. 61-79