Parzival

Parzival continues his adventures. He reaches a lake and meets a fisherman dressed in elaborate clothing. After Parzival asks where he can find shelter nearby, the fisherman tells him about the local castle.

The castle of Munsalvaesche is magical. When Parzival arrives, the castle seems relatively undefended. Parzival explains that he was directed to Munsalvaesche by the fisherman, so he is welcomed inside. He does not realize that everyone inside is feeling a deep, seemingly inconsolable grief. Nevertheless, he is treated very well and his hosts spare “no expense” (5.230.4). He is treated to an elaborate feast. Remembering his lessons from Gurnemanz, Parzival is reluctant to ask questions. He fears that doing so will insult his host, a decrepit and aged old king, whom Parzival recognizes as the fisherman who directed him toward the castle. His name is Anfortas, the Fisher King. He hopes that the strangeness of the castle will be explained to him in good time. Anfortas lies on a cot, too sickly to play much role in the banquet.

An entire procession of maidens, damsels, and pages accompanies Parzival. At dinner, an elaborate ritual is performed. The Grail is carried into the room, accompanied by a bleeding lance. According to the local legend, the Grail has the power to provide whatever food or drink a person wants. The Grail is able to feed the hundreds of people at the banquet. The Grail—described as “a precious stone” (5.233.8-9)—is placed before Anfortas. Everyone admires its perfection, especially as it feeds so many people with exactly what they desire.

Throughout the banquet, Parzival fails to ask Anfortas about his condition. Parzival does not realize that this is important. By not asking Anfortas about his illness, he has unwittingly doomed the man to continued suffering. Nonetheless, Anfortas gifts Parzival an expensive sword that he once wielded in battle. In a different room, Parzival spots Anfortas’s grandfather, Titurel. The narrator explains that Titurel is also Parzival’s great-grandfather.

That night, Parzival struggles to sleep. He is beset by nightmares. When he wakes up, he finds the castle abandoned. There is no one to help him dress. Once he prepares himself and his horse, he sets out in the hope of performing a service for Anfortas. The only person he talks to is an unseen squire, who criticizes him for not asking Anfortas about his health. He is told that this mistake has cost him “much fame” (5.247.16). Parzival tries to follow the tracks of the vanished court, but they quickly disappear.

On the road, Parzival meets Sigune again. She is still in mourning, holding on to her dead lover’s body. After he explains the events of the previous night, Sigune says that the castle is under a magic spell. No one can find it on purpose; it must be encountered by chance. Only those who are worthy of the Grail can find the magical castle. The Grail has passed down from one generation to the other. She also explains that Anfortas’s sword—which Parzival now carries—is also magical. It was created by Trebuchet, a famous smith. When he admits that he “did not ask the question” (5.255.1) about his host’s health, Sigune criticizes him. 

Parzival continues his journey. This time, he encounters Lady Jeschute. She is wearing tattered clothes, to the point where she is nearly naked, and is in great distress. She warns that her jealous husband, Orilus, is nearby and that he “desires [their] deaths” (5.259.13). He believes that Parzival had an affair with his wife, causing him to abandon her to her new life of neglect.

Parzival jousts against Orilus. He defeats the jealous husband and, rather than kill Orilus, he insists that Orilus reconcile with Jeschute. Even though he does not believe that his wife has been faithful, Orilus is bound by duty. He reluctantly reconciles with his wife. After, they visit a hermit’s den, where Parzival makes a solemn oath on a religious “relic” (5.269.1), promising that he did not have sex with Jeschute. Parzival also demands that Orilus and Jeschute seek out Arthur’s court. He is unaware that Lady Cunneware—part of Arthur’s court—is Orilus’s sister.

Following Parzival’s demands, Orilus and Jeschute find Arthur’s court and offer an “oath of surrender” (5.276.3) to Cunneware. Orilus reveals that he was defeated by the Red Knight. Arthur speaks to Jeschute about her father, King Lac of Karnant.

During a heavy snowfall in May, King Arthur rides out with his men, “searching for the man who called himself the Red Knight” (6.280.4). He wants to make Parzival a member of his court and sit him at the famous round table.

Arthur loses his “best falcon” (6.281.14), which survives the night by resting alongside the sleeping Parzival. After the falcon attacks a goose, the blood spilled on the snow reminds Parzival of Condwiramurs. One of Lady Cunneware’s squires finds Parzival and calls out. He claims that Parzival has “disgraced” (6.284.11) the good name of Arthur’s court with his actions. Segramors, a reckless member of Arthur’s court, challenges Parzival to a fight. He is defeated as Parzival’s mind dwells more on thoughts of love than on his challengers. Next, Kay challenges Parzival to a joust. He is also defeated. After the defeats, Parzival is victorious but wounded.

Gawan leaves Arthur’s court and finds Parzival, allowing him to recover, and escorts him back to the place where Arthur and his people have set up camp. As they travel, he discusses his father, King Lot. Parzival is still a young man. He is attractive and without a beard. When he arrives in Arthur’s court, he is welcomed by Lady Cunneware. She thanks Parzival for ensuring that she has been “amply avenged” (6.306.2-3) against Kay, who beat her when she laughed at Parzival’s appearance. Parzival is given new clothes. He is introduced again to Guinevere and Arthur, who knights him and makes him a member of the round table. As the brother of the original Red Knight, Ither, he forgives Parzival for killing his brother.

Cundrie possesses a “cultivated mind” (6.312.15). She is said to be a sorceress and the narrator describes her nearly animalistic appearance. As well as mathematics and geometry, she is well-versed in many languages. Cundrie criticizes Parzival because he failed to ask Anfortas about his health. Since he doomed the Fisher King to continued suffering, she believes that Parzival is “destined for Hell” (6.316.5). She also refers to Parzival’s half brother, Feirefiz. She refers to his diverse heritage, describing him as “both black and white” (6.317.6). Then, she mentions a magical castle, where hundreds of women are trapped by a spell. They are in need of rescue, she suggests.

After Cundrie leaves, “a knight of noble bearing” (6.319.12) named Kingrimursel arrives. He challenges Gawan to a fight, accusing Gawan of killing his brother. Gawan’s brother Beacurs offers to fight in his brother’s place. Gawan refuses. Even though he does not want to fight, he does not want the “disgrace” (6.323.16) of allowing someone else to take his place.

During this time, Clamide discusses his sadness at the loss of Condwiramurs. Instead, he is given the opportunity to marry Lady Cunneware, for whom he feels “love’s pangs” (6.328.15). Parzival dwells on Cundrie’s criticism. He is sad that he failed to ask Anfortas about his health. He will now abandon his previous godly mission and dedicate his life to finding the Grail and rescuing “helpless Anfortas” (6.330.15). He rides away.

Gawan prepares for his fight against Kingrimursel. He has “Arthur’s wealth at his disposal” (6.335.14). Arthur and his men decide to rescue the queens and maidens trapped in the magical castle, as described by Cundrie.