Story of the Grail Part II

This image of white snow tainted with red blood I find very interesting. When looking at the colors themselves, white often signifies purity, light, joy and glory, all positive images. Red on the other hand is often the color of passion, rage and of course the color of blood itself. In many ways this red blood is much like the blood of the red knight Perceval has spilled. It shows us once again the violence associated with knighthood. If we contrast that to the white that represents Blancheflor, we can infer that Perceval's blood or the blood of those he has shed has somehow contaminated her. It is as though the red blood seeping into the white snow is a symbol of both their unity since we assume they are in love and at the same time a symbol of the pain and violence he will bring to her. Perceval will taint her purity with the violence and blood he has shed. In many ways when Perceval sees the blood over the white snow he sees this image of Blancheflor being somehow tainted. I would also say that he beings to see that he himself is the new “red knight” since he killed him in order to get his armor. Perceval as this new red knight will forever represent this image of violence and rage and understands that merging this with the purity and joy Blancheflor represents will ultimately strip her of that purity and joy.

Story of the Grail Part 1

When Perceval's mother learns that he he wishes to be a knight her reaction is somewhat unexpected. Most people perceive knighthood as a great honor, one that most mothers would be proud to have bestowed upon their sons, yet his mother is almost angered by this idea. If you don't want to call it angry we at least know she is upset by the idea, and most would argue rightfully so. Her son, however, has the idea of being a knight held to such a high standard that not even his mother can talk him out of it. I almost feel like he has this idea that knighthood is somehow the glorious honor we see portrayed in fairytales. It is as though his mother knows the hardship it can bring and he only knows the tales of rescuing fair maidens and slaying dragons. I rather like the contrast between them. His mother reminds us that knights were actually people and many of them actually died in service, much like our own “modern-day knights” (aka the military).I mean we see commercials all the time talking about “the few and the proud” and those who “serve our country” and sometimes fall into this trap that the job is somehow glorified when really some of those who serve their country lose their lives in its name. This “myth” of knighthood and serving ones country (or king) hasn't truly changes that much. We still think serving our country is somehow a great honor and it is something most mothers would be proud of, but at the same times fear it. It's almost like his mother says the things that everyone knows and doesn't say. She reminds us that such an honor can and often does result in great sacrifice.