I haven't updated in a while. I'm sorry about that. Gah, I have an AP Bio test tomorrow first thing in the morning.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
There were times when Merlin was truly grateful for being brought up in a poor farming village. By being in Camelot, he was constantly surrounded by people of noble birth, people who were self-absorbed and spoiled. These people had everything handed to them.
In Ealdor, Merlin had been taught the value of working for what you wanted. Nothing in life was free; it had to be worked for. In Ealdor, being self-absorbed was not an option. You had to think about everyone around you. In Ealdor, there was very little to spoil a person with.
There were definite advantages to growing up with everything that you could possible need. However, being forced to work for what he needed had molded Merlin's character.