Morpheus

Morpheus may refer to:

Characters

Technology

Morpheus (Rebecca Clarke)

Morpheus is a composition for viola and piano by the English composer and violist Rebecca Clarke. It was written in 1917 when Clarke was pursuing a performing career in the United States. The piece shows off the impressionistic musical language Clarke had developed, modeled on the music of Achille-Claude Debussy and Ralph Vaughan Williams, that is also apparent in her Viola Sonata. The harmonies are ethereal and otherworldly; the title is the name of a Greek god, who was especially associated with sleep and dreams.

Clarke gave the first performance of the work in one of her many recitals at the Aeolian Hall in New York City in February 1918, and subsequently performed it at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 1918 to great acclaim. She listed the work on the program and signed the autograph score with the pen-name 'Anthony Trent'. Clarke was self-conscious about having a long list of pieces followed by her name in the composer's place. While the media had light praise for compositions bearing Clarke's name, it greatly applauded the work of the nonexistent 'Mr. Trent'. For Clarke, this only strengthened her belief that it was neither the time nor the place for female composers, though an essay of hers from around the same time speaks of the fertility of the United States to produce a major composer, who happened to be a woman. Despite Clarke's insecurities, the piece survives—in two versions—into the modern day, and is an integral part of the violist's repertoire.

Morpheus (Marvel Comics)

Morpheus is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Morpheus first appeared Moon Knight #12 (August 1981), and was created by Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz. The character subsequently appeared in Moon Knight #22-23 (August-September 1982), Moon Knight Vol. 2 #3 (September 1985), Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #18 (June 1990), and Moon Knight: Resurrection War #2-4 (February-April 1998).

Morpheus received an entry in the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #7.

Fictional character biography

Robert Markham was born in New York City. He had an unprecedented viral infection that caused competitive inhibition of certain segments in his DNA in the process of replication. He consults Dr. Peter Alraune, who prescribes an experimental, untested drug. The drug reacts with Markham's DNA, causing a freakish appearance and the inability to sleep. Markham discovers that he no longer needs sleep, and that he now has a highly destructive psionic ability. He names himself Morpheus, after the god of dreams. Crazed, Morpheus seeks to punish Dr. Alraune, which brought him to the attention of Moon Knight, a wealthy vigilante. In the resulting fight, Morpheus is defeated.