The Christian Grail
The Quest of the Holy Grail developed Boron’s idea of a Christian grail and made it more familiar to the medieval audience (Barber 8). It differs from earlier grail romances, because the symbolic value of the grail is more significant than its physical value. There are various interpretations of what the Holy Grail signified in the Quest, as well what the larger meaning of the narrative implies. Albert Pauphilet argues that the Holy Grail is actually God, and that the various knights attempting the quest represent humankind’s search for God (Kennedy 208). Pauphilet’s point coincides with the theme of “irrational longing for something higher and better than ourselves” that is found throughout literature and real life. On the other hand, Etienne Gilson suggested that the Grail is the symbol of God’s grace therefore implying that the knights were seeking redemption through their grail quest (Kennedy 208).
Galahad is often compared to Christ, due to his wholesome virtue and his spiritual qualities that distinguish him from other characters (Marino 22). Marino notes that “Galahad’s removal of a sinful man’s corpse from hallowed ground is explained as an allegory of humanity’s fall and redemption with Galahad representing Christ” (22). Galahad does not need to undergo an intense spiritual journey, because he is perfect from the start. He more or less acts as a guide for the other characters, Perceval and Bors (Barber 9). The association of Galahad with Christ and the Christian symbolism of the grail makes the Quest comparable to the Bible. The structure of the narrative resembles the Bible as well because it uses stories to convey important lessons.
Galahad is often compared to Christ, due to his wholesome virtue and his spiritual qualities that distinguish him from other characters (Marino 22). Marino notes that “Galahad’s removal of a sinful man’s corpse from hallowed ground is explained as an allegory of humanity’s fall and redemption with Galahad representing Christ” (22). Galahad does not need to undergo an intense spiritual journey, because he is perfect from the start. He more or less acts as a guide for the other characters, Perceval and Bors (Barber 9). The association of Galahad with Christ and the Christian symbolism of the grail makes the Quest comparable to the Bible. The structure of the narrative resembles the Bible as well because it uses stories to convey important lessons.
La Queste’s Didacticism
The Quest’s didactic tone sets it apart from other grail narratives. It is constantly noted for its “lengthy sermonizing and allegorization of events, including biblical references” (Marino 22). Each scene in the book has a meaning, and usually a hermit or some other ad hoc character will explain to the characters as well as the reader the spiritual importance of the events unfolding (Barber 9). For example, a Hermit interprets a dream that Hector had about Lancelot. In the dream Lancelot attempts to drink from a spring but it disappears before he has the chance to retrieve water from it. The hermit explains to Hector that the spring symbolizes the Holy Grail, and Lancelot can’t drink from it because of his sinful relationship with Guenevere (the Quest). The narrator uses these ad hoc characters as a means to instruct the reader. The lessons that knights learn through their adventures are meant to be absorbed by the reader as well (Williams 174). Ad hoc characters are significant in this story because they lessen the temptations and dangers of the quest by acting as guides for the characters (Simes 58). One hermit warns Bohrs, “the helm [of a ship] has a master who holds and guides it…making it go where he wants. It is the same with a man’s heart. His good deeds come from the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit; his evil deeds are instigated by the Devil” (the Quest).To keep the tone of the narrative impersonal, the narrator uses these ad hoc characters to preach to his audience (Simes 58). The special commentary and explanation of events takes more space in the narrative than actual action which is the reason for its strong didactic tone (Simes 58).
The Fall Of The Knights Of The Round Table
The Quest of the Holy Grail is seen to be an anti-romance because of its significant departure from traditional Arthurian romantic literature. However it does not stray too far from the legend’s chivalric nature, it redefines it. The audience is faced with idea of earthly chivalry versus celestial chivalry, as the Quest portrays that those successful at the grail quest need to possess the latter (Simes 57). Earthly chivalry is what we typically see in Arthurian literature; it involves the individual pursuit of glory and honor. Its roots in pride and vanity inhibit spiritual progress. In contrast to the idea of earthly chivalry, we have celestial chivalry which is about devoting oneself to the service of God and renouncing the “specious attractions of the world” (Simes 57). “For this quest is not at all a quest for earthly things, rather it must be the seeking of the great secrets and intimacies of our Lord …”Galahad emphasizes in the narrative (the Quest). No longer does physical strength alone guarantee success and honor in the quest for the grail (Simes 57). The questers need to be pure and virtuous.
Faced with the demands of a new form of chivalry, most of the Knights of the Round Table are set up to fail from the beginning. The Quest portrays Arthur’s men as sinful and associates the Round Table with pride, lechery, and decadence, so naturally they will not adapt to the new spiritual grail gracefully. The knight Gawain, for example, has a hard time moving forward in his quest and does not make any significant contributions to the grail quest because he is spirituality stagnant, and this quest requires spiritual growth (Simes 57). He also fails to heed the advice of the hermits that he comes across. Hermits explain the events that are happening to him in the story, and are meant to offer guidance in the grail quest. Unlike Gawain, Lancelot does accept advice from the hermits, and enables him to move forward in his quest. He recognized early on that he adulterous relationship with Guenevere, King Arthur’s wife, is holding him back from getting the grail, but he strives to make progress nonetheless although he cannot achieve the grail because of his indiscretions (Simes 57).
So if the Knights of the Round Table are tainted with sin, who can get the grail? Galahad, the virgin knight. His purity made him the perfect replacement of Perceval as chief grail knight. “Perceval was too human and interested in worldly love whereas Galahad is otherworldly with little or no concern for the affairs of humanity” (Marino 21). Galahad with his clerical values of celibacy and sainthood represents the next generation of knights that will supersede the previous generation of Round Table whose values are more secular (Sears 3). Thus it can be said that the Quest is the beginning of the end for the Round Table. Indeed it became scattered because most of the knights died trying to find the Holy Grail (Sears 4). It was only Galahad that was able to see the grail because of his devout piety and righteous lifestyle. The Quest creates the impression that the purpose of the Holy Grail was to end the time of Arthurian chivalry, and introduce a new order of knighthood (Sears 10).
Faced with the demands of a new form of chivalry, most of the Knights of the Round Table are set up to fail from the beginning. The Quest portrays Arthur’s men as sinful and associates the Round Table with pride, lechery, and decadence, so naturally they will not adapt to the new spiritual grail gracefully. The knight Gawain, for example, has a hard time moving forward in his quest and does not make any significant contributions to the grail quest because he is spirituality stagnant, and this quest requires spiritual growth (Simes 57). He also fails to heed the advice of the hermits that he comes across. Hermits explain the events that are happening to him in the story, and are meant to offer guidance in the grail quest. Unlike Gawain, Lancelot does accept advice from the hermits, and enables him to move forward in his quest. He recognized early on that he adulterous relationship with Guenevere, King Arthur’s wife, is holding him back from getting the grail, but he strives to make progress nonetheless although he cannot achieve the grail because of his indiscretions (Simes 57).
So if the Knights of the Round Table are tainted with sin, who can get the grail? Galahad, the virgin knight. His purity made him the perfect replacement of Perceval as chief grail knight. “Perceval was too human and interested in worldly love whereas Galahad is otherworldly with little or no concern for the affairs of humanity” (Marino 21). Galahad with his clerical values of celibacy and sainthood represents the next generation of knights that will supersede the previous generation of Round Table whose values are more secular (Sears 3). Thus it can be said that the Quest is the beginning of the end for the Round Table. Indeed it became scattered because most of the knights died trying to find the Holy Grail (Sears 4). It was only Galahad that was able to see the grail because of his devout piety and righteous lifestyle. The Quest creates the impression that the purpose of the Holy Grail was to end the time of Arthurian chivalry, and introduce a new order of knighthood (Sears 10).