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