h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've always felt that Mordred was something of a proletarian fellow; denied the benefits of rank by being a bastard, and attempting to win anyway. This, of course, would be anathema to the writers of both the 'original' legends and romantic interpretations, but makes him more sympathetic in the modern era. You could also draw parallels with Steerpike from Gormenghast.

Alternative subject: No, he doesn't.
I don't find any reason for treating him sympathetically, except for the fact that Camelot could never last. Therefore, there had to be an enemy within (besides Lancelot and Guinevere's oh-so-innocent trips to the hayloft- "Just looking for eggs, Sire!")to ensure it was destroyed entirely. If it had been left to Those Whose Names are Not Mentioned Here, you get the feeling that all would have been hastily laughed off as youthful high spirits.
Besides, who's feeling sorry for Steerpike? Eh?!
"I can wait."
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

Steerpike doesn't start eveil. He lets his ambition make him so, and the supressed fury of his formative years is slowly released. Gormenghast is full of disfunctional characters, and because of this he never learns true empathy or how to interact properly with people.
Mordred is robbed of any inheritance from the moment he is born, and consequently schemes to 'reclaim' what he believes is rightfully his.
I think there are parallels there.

Mordred was never presented as a sympathetic character- he was evil from the beginning. One could say this was due to his grandfather's (King Uther) manipulation of the Princess Ygraine, (Arthur & Morgan's mother), cycle of crime and punishment, etc. However, Steerpike is a different class of villain due to his being much more developed- he is at first likeable, possibly in order for us to feel guilty when he turns nasty. Although he is perhaps a response to the essential inefficiency of the castle, he is not there merely to provide a balance between good and evil. He's a catalyst- Mordred simply provides the traditional foe. We don't hear of him in his early years, and in fact is not mentioned in the legends until the penultimate stage. Also, Steerpike is the natural culmination of bad order, whereas Mordred encourages the rot (introduced by the Lancelot and Guinevere, who are blameless) within Camelot, which had previously been untroubled.