Parzival

Gahmuret travels to Toledo in Spain “in search of Kaylet” (2.59.1), his cousin who is both King of Castille and the son of Gahmuret’s aunt. When he arrives in Waleis, he discovers that the Queen of Waleis has offered to marry the victor of a large jousting tournament. Gahmuret speaks with Kaylet, who is in attendance at the tournament alongside many other kings, knights, and warriors who are “well-versed in chivalry” (2.66.6). Rather than waiting for the day of the tournament, the participants fight in a vesper tournament—the name given to a tournament that takes place on the eve of the actual tournament.

Gahmuret wins the vesper tournament, defeating many knights and kings while also taking many hostages. As such, he is visited by Queen Herzeloyde of Waleis, who tells him that he has won the “highest prize” (2.82.2) and he is to become her husband. At the same time, however, a retinue of knights representing Queen Ampflise of France also brings news of a rival marriage offer. The matter is put to a local justice, who rules that Queen Herzeloyde has the right to marry Gahmuret.

In his discussions with the queen, Gahmuret insists that he will have to leave to fight in a tournament “every month” (2.97.7) and to continue in his knightly deeds. She agrees. During this time, Gahmuret is deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of his mother and brother. The news sends him into a deep period of grief, during which time he marries the queen. When he hears that the Baruch is in trouble, he sets out for the Middle East to help. While fighting in a campaign on behalf of the Baruch, Gahmuret is killed. He is buried according to Christian custom, even though the Baruch is not a Christian.

While her husband is away, Herzeloyde has terrible nightmares. When she is told of her husband’s death, she spirals into a deep grief. She is already pregnant with his child, and she chooses not to end her own life for the sake of her unborn son.

A short time later, she gives birth to a son and names him Parzival. Given the nature of Gahmuret’s death, however, she does not want her son to know anything about knights or chivalry. She attempts to keep the world of chivalry “concealed from him” (2.112.12). In a short endnote to the book, the narrator defends his “anger” (2.114.5) with one particular woman. Defending himself, he claims that he does not know “a single letter of the alphabet” (2.115.15), which he holds as proof that his story is based on fact.

After the death of Gahmuret, Queen Herzeloyde is determined that her son will not fall victim to the same chivalric code which took her husband away. She abdicates her kingdoms and lives in the forest with a retinue of servants and her son, Parzival. She wants to “conceal all chivalry from him” (3.117.16).

Parzival grows up to be a strong, handsome young man. He is a skilled hunter. While out hunting, he encounters a group of four knights. The knights astound him, as he thinks each of them is like “a god” (3.121.16). He asks them about their armor and their status, learning that they have been knighted by King Arthur. When he returns home to his mother, Parzival’s glowing discussion of the knights causes his mother to worry. He insists that he will venture out to find King Arthur and become a knight.

Herzeloyde tries to trick her son. She acquiesces to his wishes, but dresses him in a fool’s clothing. When he arrives at King Arthur’s court, she believes, the clothing will cause him to be mocked. She hopes that this mockery will prevent him from becoming a knight. Before he leaves, she gives him advice. She tells him to greet every person that he meets and to take a ring from women as a sign of good fortune, as well as encouraging him to follow advice from wise older men. After Parzival has ridden away “in a hurry to find Arthur” (3.128.8), Herzeloyde dies of grief.

Early in his journey, Parzival encounters a “mighty duchess” (3.130.1) named Jeschute. She is laying alone in a tent, waiting for her husband to return. Remembering his mother’s advice, Parzival tries to take a ring from her. He takes the ring and leaves. When Jeschute’s husband, Duke Orilus de Lalander, returns, he is horrified that another man has taken his wife’s ring. Assuming that she has been unfaithful to him, he punishes her. Orilus boasts that he is the man who killed Gahmuret’s brother, Galoes.

After leaving Jeschute behind, Parzival meets another woman named Sigune. She is cradling her dead husband, Schionatulander, whom she explains has died in a joust. She tells Parzival her husband’s story and describes his lineage. Noticing his “noble qualities” (3.139.14), she reveals that she is Parzival’s cousin and helps him to understand his true status, including the lands which he rightfully rules but which have been taken over by other men.

After receiving guidance from a peasant fisherman, Parzival reaches Arthur’s court. Before he can enter the court, he runs into a knight on the road. The knight is clothed in elaborate red armor, “even redder than fire” (3.145.13). Parzival is struck by the color and the quality of the armor. The Red Knight—whose actual name is Ither—explains that he has just come from Arthur’s court. There, he had made unreasonable demands of Arthur and then “unintentionally” (3.147.1) spilled wine across the dress of Arthur’s wife. He is waiting outside the court for someone to come and joust against him.

Parzival enters the court, adhering to his mother’s advice to greet every person he meets. His good looks and his manners lead him to be introduced to Arthur, though his fool’s clothes cause laughter among certain people. At court, Kay the fool convinces Arthur to gift Parzival the armor of the Red Knight. Kay wants to see a fight between the imposing Red Knight and the immature Parzival. When Parzival accepts the invitation, however, he proves himself worthy. He kills the Red Knight by throwing his hunting spear “through his eye” (3.155.5) and—with the help of a squire—takes the knight’s armor and horse. Parzival is unfamiliar with the horse and the weaponry of the knight, but he quickly learns.

Parzival sets out on the road while wearing the Red Knight’s armor over his fool’s clothes. He arrives at a castle belonging to Gurnemanz de Graharz. Parzival is welcomed into the castle, though the fool’s clothes that he wears beneath his armor cause a brief moment of embarrassment. Gurnemanz de Graharz teaches Parzival how to be a knight. Not only does he teach him how to joust and ride a horse, but he also teaches him important religious gestures and to “bless himself” (3.169.11). He also passes along advice on how a knight should act in society. He tells Parzival to never lose his sense of shame, to be both poor and rich, to not ask too many questions, to be both merciful and courageous, and to never waver in relation to women. Parzival is grateful to learn these “knightly skills” (3.173.11).

At dinner, Parzival sits next to Gurnemanz de Graharz’s daughter, Liaze. Gurnemanz wants Parzival to marry Liaze, but Parzival insists that he must fulfill his ambitions to become a knight before he can think about marriage. If he ever believes himself worthy of Liaze, he explains, he will return and marry her. Gurnemanz bids an emotional farewell to Parzival, comparing him to his three dead sons.