The Quest of the Holy Grail: Analysis of Major Characters
The Quest of the Holy Grail is an enduring legend centered around the search for a sacred chalice believed to hold miraculous powers. Major characters within this narrative include Joseph of Arimathea, who is pivotal as the one who collects Christ's blood in the Grail during the Crucifixion and later becomes the guardian of its secrets. Merlin, a complex figure born of both divine and dark origins, plays a crucial role in guiding King Arthur and his knights toward their fates, including the quest for the Grail.
Perceval emerges as the quintessential hero, initially characterized by youthful arrogance but ultimately transformed into the purest knight through his noble journey towards seeking the Grail. King Arthur, a symbol of justice and equality, presides over the Round Table, embodying the ideals of leadership and wisdom. The Fisher King, the Grail's second custodian, represents the intertwining of suffering and redemption, waiting for the arrival of the pure knight to fulfill his destiny and pass on the Grail. Through the interplay of these characters, the quest explores themes of purity, redemption, and the quest for divine truth, resonating across cultures and time.
The Quest of the Holy Grail: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Unknown
First published: c. 1300
Genre: Novel
Locale: England, France, and Wales
Plot: Arthurian romance
Time: Early eighth century
Joseph of Arimathea (er-ih-muh-THEE-uh), a disciple of Jesus who was present at the Crucifixion and asked Pontius Pilate for permission to bury Jesus. He, along with Nicodemus, cleansed Christ's wounds prior to wrapping him in a shroud. While doing so, Joseph opened a wound, causing it to bleed. To prevent spilling of blood, he collected the drops in a chalice, believed to be the cup from which Christ drank during the Last Supper. For this, he was imprisoned by the Jews. While imprisoned, he was visited by the Holy Ghost. It is then that he was told of the secrets of the Grail and of its power. At this point, the quest of the Holy Grail begins.
Merlin, the illegitimate son of the devil, though he is certainly not evil. The devil, angry at the victory of Jesus, takes his revenge by raping a virgin, who, in turn, bears a son, Merlin, destined to be the wisest of all men and to oppose the teachings of Christ. He grows up to become a sorcerer in the court of Uther Pendragon, for whom he builds the Round Table. He controls the events that ultimately lead to the rise of King Arthur, son of Uther, and helps to guide the events that lead to Perceval's quest for the Holy Grail.
Perceval, a knight of the Round Table, the hero. He begins his life not knowing of his destiny to seek the Grail. At first, he is prompted by his niece to go to the court of Arthur and seek a seat at the Round Table. Young and arrogant, he enters a tournament and wins. He requests a seat at the table, and King Arthur reluctantly gives in to the knight. It is at this point that he vows to be pure and chaste, and to take up the quest for the Grail. He remains the most powerful knight in the land, and he is never defeated. He is tempted by sin and lust but always resists. Eventually, he is led to the Holy Grail by Bron and saves Britain from its plagues and curses by learning the secrets of the Grail. He is the purest of all knights.
King Arthur, king of the Britons, a powerful and just king. He rules from the Round Table, at which all knights are equal and all is just. He is wise and at first does not like the arrogance of the young Perceval. He is well aware that there is a vacant seat at the Round Table for the purest knight in the world. When Perceval asks to sit in the seat, he argues against it. After he gives in and Perceval sits, the table and ground shake and thunder shatters the air. Arthur sees the Holy Ghost speak, and Perceval changes instantly from arrogant to pure and chaste. He then knew that the quest spoken of by Merlin would begin.
The Fisher King, the second person to possess the Holy Grail. It was passed to him by Joseph of Arimathea. He is the greatest of fisherman and is told that he cannot die, but will remain old and frail until the coming of the purest knight in the world. Only to him would he pass the Grail and its secrets. Once this was achieved, the Fisher King was allowed to die peacefully.