A Review of Quest for the Grail Part IV

It has been a while since I have posted about this literary work. For my previous thoughts on The Quest of the Holy Grail, check out the following links:  https://themedievalist.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-review-of-quest-of-holy-grail-part-i.html

https://themedievalist.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-review-of-quest-of-grail-part-ii.html

https://themedievalist.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-review-of-quest-of-holy-grail-part-iii.html

Upon leaving the castle of the maidens, Galahad continued on his journey until he came to to the Waste Forest. Here, he met ways with Lancelot and Percival, knights that did not not know him. In fact, both Lancelot and Percival attacked Galahad as neither did recognize Galahad's coat of arms. In return, Galahad knocked Lancelot from his horse. Percival too was knocked down in battle by Galahad.

This joust scene had taken place in front of a house. As soon as Galahad had won the fight, the lady of the home urged him on with encouragement and did say that had these knights truly known him, they would have never attacked him. As Galahad rode off, the defeated knights mounted again to their steeds to pursue him though their efforts failed to do so quite unsuccessfully. 

The Holy Grail appeared to Lancelot shortly thereafter. However, Lancelot did not pursue it either due to his exhaustion, or to his weight of sin that was a burden to him. How realistic this is indeed, for oftentimes, when we are in sin, we don't pursue the holy things of God either due to lack of interest, or often, because we feel guilty proclaiming what is holy if we are not living it. Lancelot though, did not remain in this estate of gullible guilt. In him, we do not find the characteristics of self pity by which he blames all else for his mistakes. No in fact, Lancelot is mature enough to know that the consequences of his sin are due to his own decisions.  

Throughout the chapter, we find Lancelot seeking forgiveness for his sins. While guilt maybe an occasional focus of morality in literature today, repentance rarely is. But Lancelot wants to be free from the weight of mortal sin on his soul and so he desires true penance. While Lancelot was not always the pure and undefiled knight that Galahad had always been, we do find that Lancelot comes to regret, and even turn away from his sin as a mark of a true Christian. Lancelot particularly confesses and receives absolution for his lust of Guinevere. His character is gradually reformed thereafter, and Lancelot experiences a true reformation of his character to the subordination of God's decrees of holiness.  

One aspect I truly enjoy about this work of Medieval French Literature is its simplicity to read and understand. I find it a much easier read than The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, for instance. The story is written in prose, which is usually an easier read of language than is poetry. The Lancelot-Grail may not have the rhyme or humor of The Canterbury Tales, but it does surpass The Canterbury Tales in my view, concerning themes of Christian allegory. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Lancelot-Grail is one of the best works of Medieval Literature. 

Sometimes I go back and forth on whether or not I like this literary work or The Canterbury Tales better. The Lancelot-Grail is a must read for any who find interest in Medieval Literature. Whether we read literature for a hobby, or for theological and historical purposes, or for some other cause, literature allows us to imagine stories as great writers well knew it long ago. Literature also allows us to see Christian themes and characteristics that we would not normally notice from a sermon or a theology book. In literature, we find a painting of the good and the evil that exists in all men. 

The Lancelot-Grail is more than another work of Medieval Literature.  It is about one of the greatest artifacts in the history of mankind: the holy grail. This cup of salvation, this cup said to have been used by Christ as the Last Supper, is a symbolic image of the immorality desired for in all of us. The holy grail is also a picture to us that no matter how magical or mystical it may seem to us, that the mortality of this life is not the end of our eternity. Yes, each and every one of us, whether or not we admit it, will experience either eternal life or eternal damnation from God forever and ever. Ultimately then, the quest for the holy grail is the quest for salvation itself, which is the major theme of this story. This theme is quite recurring throughout the given text.  

We don't have to here sermons by pastors or look for books by Saint Augustine of Hippo to learn about theology. Theology is found all over the works of some of the most prominent works of Western Civilization. Simply by reading the literature of the past, whether it be Paradise Lost by John Milton, or The Confessions by Saint Augustine, we learn from the great works of Christian literature about sin, the fall, salvation, and redemption. The Lancelot-Grail, is no exception in its depiction of these traits throughout its texts. From this work of Medieval French Literature, we learn such spiritual attributes that can add to our own theology of God our Creator.