Galahad

Galahad

Heroes have been created as a reminder of faith when all seems lost or as a symbol of courage. Many cultures have their own classification of how a hero should be, whether it is going on a quest or defending loved ones. As stated in this quotation, "The standard path of the mythological adventure of the hero is a magnification of the formula represented in the rites of passage" (Campbell 30.) One particular hero, Galahad, known as the pure or chosen knight, was able to sit on the holy seat, the Siege Perilous, pull out the sword from the stone, and chosen to go on the quest of the Holy Grail. As one of the main characters in the tale, he was a crucial member in the adventure for the Grail.

Galahad first appeared during the 12th and 13th century around 1230 in the Vulgate Cycles by Robert de Boron. The Vulgate Cycles consisted of three books and the middle book was called Queste del Saint Graal (The Quest of the Holy Grail). The only author who used Galahad as the main character was Thomas Malory in his Middle English prose called Le Morte d'Arthur. He comes from stories that have been passed down from author to author, but a French poet, Chretien de Troyes, was first to introduce the story of the Grail into the Arthurian Legend. The story of the Quest of the Holy Grail was originally written in French, but soon it went onto other cultures such as Celtic mythology, Welsh Mabinogion (stories), Irish mythology, the Cornish, The Celts of North Britain, the Bretons, and then Italy. "They said the name may have also been taken from the Palestinian," (Ford). The original story of the Holy Grail was made as a Christian story. As one of the main characters in the tale, he was a crucial member in the adventure for the Grail. Galahad becomes a more exceptional knight when he found the Grail. He had also bestowed the honor back to the Knights of the Round Table.

The birth and childhood of Galahad was quite unusual. Lady Elaine of Corbenic disguised herself as Queen Guinevere, Lancelot's love. She then tricks him into bed with her and become pregnant with Galahad. Ashamed, Lancelot abandons both his son and Elaine to go on adventures. Lancelot may have been embarrassed to go back to show the other knights of how foolish he was to be tricked. "Galahad was left to be raised by his great aunt at a nunnery," (Galahad 2). During his whole childhood he may have not known who is mother or father was, but he grew up to be the chosen one. After fifteen years, Lancelot meets up with Galahad at the nunnery because a strange woman took him there. As the nuns took him out to greet Lancelot, he realized the boy was his son. The soon to be holy knight is then taken back to Camelot where he is knighted by his father during the Feast of the Pentecost. "Galahad was led into Arthur's court where he sat in the Siege Perilous" (Domini). Galahad survives the seat, which is witnessed by King Arthur and his knights. Without knowing he is on the road to being known as the holy knight. King Arthur soon takes Galahad to a river where there laid a sword in a stone and told him to take out the sword, which no one has done yet. "The king then asks the young knight to perform a test which involves pulling a sword from a stone" (Galahad 3). King Arthur proclaims him as the greatest knight. After a tournament created by Arthur they go back to the castle and suddenly they heard a thunder, as if the place would have been destroyed. Then entering the hall was the Holy Grail held by an angel, not knowing whether it could be poison or not, every knight ate from it. Suddenly it left so quickly that they did not know what became of it. Then King Arthur chose the people to go on the quest, Gawain, Lancelot, and Galahad. "But whether small or great, or no matter what the stage or grade of life, the call rings up the curtain, always, on the mystery of the transfiguration," (Campbell 51). As they left Queen Guinevere began to cry. That night they stayed at a castle called Vagon, and decided to separate from each other at dawn. Galahad was first to leave with his horse and sword, which he pulled from the stone. Galahad proves he is chaste, because of the miraculous deeds he has done so far. He may have had an unusual birth and hidden childhood, which may seem weird, but he grew up to be a knight for Arthur and the knight of God.

During his quest, the righteous knight receives his weapon, supernatural help, and atonement with his father. Galahad didn't have any problems with his father; he even went on the quest with him. The fourth day after being separated, Galahad comes to an abbey and meets up with Sir Uwaine and Sir Bagdemagus (King Bagdemagus), who also went on the quest. They had come to get a shield that no man can obtain without getting wounded within three days. Sir Bagdemagus asked a monk where the shield was and when he came back he was attacked by the white knight, who took the shield away from him. The knight said, "...this shield belongeth to no man but Galahad, and it is my duty to giveth to him," (MacLeod 203). "One has only to know and trust, and the ageless guardians will appear," (Campbell 72). Instead, it was the squire who took the shield to the perfect knight, who was later knighted. Galahad then found out his name was King Melias. As they both walked they came across a white knight, who was waiting for Galahad. They saluted each other and the white knight told him the legend about the white shield, and how only the greatest knight may have the shield, but after he finished he disappeared. Soon, they also separated for Melias wanted adventure on his own. For two days Melias traveled alone till he came across a green meadow and saw the gold crown and delicious looking meat. Not having a desire for food he went after the crown, just as he left a knight came after him. Praying to God to spare his life, the knight caught up and stabbed him left shoulder. The knight took the crown leaving Melias to die. "Luckily for him, Galahad found him near death and risked his life to fight off the two knights, he took him to the abbey where his wounds were taken care of by a monk," (Galahad's Tradition). Galahad shows he is a strong knight, who deserves to go on the quest, because he was a knight without sin. After crossing the first threshold he receives his weapon, supernatural help, and his atonement with his father.

As Galahad travels deeper into his journey he is faced with many complications that include being tempted, facing a dark time for him, a glorious battle, and the apotheosis. One day while riding he came near an old chapel where he stopped to pray and just as his finished his heard a voice tell him to go to the Castle of the Maidens. When he arrived the knights came out ready to fight Galahad as they smote him with