The Story of the Grail/Perceval pg, 381-419

2. Chretien portrays Perceval as childlike in the first scene with the knights in the Waste Forest. The knights approach Perceval and at first he is frightened. He was astounded by their appearances and then thought the knights were God and his angels. He was naive, and was intrigued by the knights' shields, armor, and lances. The knight was seeking information from him and was patient when Perceval replied with further curiosity of knighthood. The knight was amused by Perceval's awe, and provided answers for all of his questions. Chretien portrays knighthood as enchanting and surreal, so amazing that one can question what he has seen. He portrays Perceval as innocent and childlike because of his naivety. The portrays conflict with each other because Perceval is intrigued by the barbaric aspects of a knight's duty. He questions why the knight does not launch his lance like he does with his javelin. However, Perceval does not appreciate the virtuous qualities of knighthood clearly dipicted in the text; he has to be taught how to fight humanely.


3. I felt Perceval's mother was helpless in the episode with her son. Perceval had been sheltered from the knowing the history of his father and brothers' defeat because of his mother's fear that history would repeat itself through him. She felt intense despair because she knew she would be unable to persuade him from his desire to become a knight. Through her helplessness she offers him advice: honor a maiden if you find her in distress, do not go further than to kiss her, but if she offers you her ring or alms purse you can accept. She warns him to know the name of those who accompany him at an inn or on the road and to go inside any chapel he passes by to pray. She kissed her son and cried as she watched him leave and he was unaffected and almost apathetic. Even when she fainted on the bridge he did not retreat to make sure he was still alive. Perceval's reaction to his mother's pain was completely unemotional. He should have at least tried to comfort her, and perhaps delay his departure for her sake. However, I think he reacts this way out of stupidity and immaturity. His intellect is too low to expect him to by sympathetic or understanding of his mother's wishes.