The Myth of the The Myth of the Fisher KingFisher King

Archetypes of the myth and its Archetypes of the myth and its appearance in appearance in

Ron Rash’s Ron Rash’s The World Made StraightThe World Made Straight

by Jane McClainby Jane McClain

THE ACCOUNT OF THE FISHER KING (as told in Terry Gilliam's film "The Fisher King")

               

 he story of the Fisher King begins when the king is a boy, having to spend the night alone in the forest to prove his courage so he can become king. And while he's spending the night alone he is visited by a sacred vision. Out of the fire appears the Holy Grail, the symbol of God's divine grace. And a voice said to the boy, "You shall be keeper of the grail so that it may heal the hearts of men." But the boy was blinded by greater visions of a life of power, glory, and beauty. And in this state of radical amazement he felt for a brief moment, not like a boy, but invincible, like God. So he reached in the fire to take the grail and the grail vanished, leaving him with his hand in the fire to be terribly wounded. Now as this boy grew older his wound grew deeper, until one day life for him lost its reason. He had no faith in any man, not even himself. He couldn't love, or feel love. He was sick with experience; he began to die. One day a fool wandered into the castle and found the king alone. Now being a fool he was simple-minded; he didn't see a king, he only saw a man alone and in pain. And he asked the king, "What ails you, friend?" The king replied, "I'm thirsty. I need some water to cool my throat." So the fool took a cup from beside his bed, filled it with water, and handed it to the king. As the king began to drink, he realized his wound was healed. He looked in his hands and there was the Holy Grail, that which he had sought all of his life. He turned to the fool and said with amazement, "How could you find that which my brightest and bravest could not?" The fool replied, "I don't know. I only knew that you were thirsty.”                       

THE FISHER KING MYTH

 In Arthurian legend, there is a story of the Fisher King. To summarize, a guardian of the Holy Grail is injured as a result of his inabilityto resist this sacred treasure.  As he grows older, he searches for redemption.  Parsifal (hence the name of Robin Williams' character "Parry" in the film The Fisher King) helps the guardian (also called the Fisher King) redeem himself.   The red knight is an enemy of King Arthur, whom Parsifal slays.  (In the film, the red knight represents Parry's hidden pain and emotional tragedy.) 

Let's begin with the story itself.  Let's begin with the story itself.  It's the story of the Grail myth, It's the story of the Grail myth, and although there are several and although there are several variations, my favorite begins variations, my favorite begins with the Fisher King as a young with the Fisher King as a young boy who had to spend a night boy who had to spend a night alone in the forest to prove his alone in the forest to prove his courage.  And during that courage.  And during that night, he is visited by a sacred night, he is visited by a sacred vision.  Out of the fire appears vision.  Out of the fire appears the Holy Grail--God's highest the Holy Grail--God's highest symbol of divine grace.  And a symbol of divine grace.  And a voice says to the boy, "You voice says to the boy, "You shall be the guardian of the shall be the guardian of the Grail, that it may heal the Grail, that it may heal the hearts of men."  hearts of men."  

                                                                                

            

The Original Screenplay Version (as written by The Original Screenplay Version (as written by Richard LaGravenese):Richard LaGravenese):

Myth continuedMyth continued

But the boy was overcome.  Innocent and foolish, he was But the boy was overcome.  Innocent and foolish, he was blinded by greater visions--a life ahead filled with beauty blinded by greater visions--a life ahead filled with beauty and glory, hope and power.  Tears filled his eyes as he and glory, hope and power.  Tears filled his eyes as he sensed his own invincibility.  A boy's tears of naive wonder sensed his own invincibility.  A boy's tears of naive wonder and inspiration.  And in this state of radical amazement, he and inspiration.  And in this state of radical amazement, he felt for a brief moment, not like a boy, but like God.  And so felt for a brief moment, not like a boy, but like God.  And so he reached into the fire to take the Grail.  And the Grail he reached into the fire to take the Grail.  And the Grail vanished.  And the boy's hands were left caught in the vanished.  And the boy's hands were left caught in the flames, leaving him wounded and ashamed at what his flames, leaving him wounded and ashamed at what his recklessness had lost him.  recklessness had lost him.  

Cont.Cont.

When he became King, he was determined to reclaim his When he became King, he was determined to reclaim his destiny and find the Grail.  But with each year that passed, destiny and find the Grail.  But with each year that passed, with each campaign he fought, the Grail remained lost, and with each campaign he fought, the Grail remained lost, and this wound he suffered in the fire grew worse.  He became this wound he suffered in the fire grew worse.  He became a bitter man.  Life for his lost its reason.  With each a bitter man.  Life for his lost its reason.  With each disappointment, with each betrayal, with each loss, this disappointment, with each betrayal, with each loss, this wound would grow.  wound would grow. 

Cont.Cont.

Soon the land began to spoil from neglect and his people Soon the land began to spoil from neglect and his people starved.  Until finally, the King lost all faith in God's starved.  Until finally, the King lost all faith in God's existence and in man's value.  He lost his ability to love or existence and in man's value.  He lost his ability to love or be loved and he was so sick with experience that he started be loved and he was so sick with experience that he started to die.  to die. 

As the years went on, his bravest knights would search for the As the years went on, his bravest knights would search for the Grail that would heal their King and make them the most Grail that would heal their King and make them the most respected and valued men in the land, but to no avail.  respected and valued men in the land, but to no avail.  Pretty soon, finding the Grail became a ruthless struggle Pretty soon, finding the Grail became a ruthless struggle between ambitious men vying for the King's power, which between ambitious men vying for the King's power, which only confirmed the King's worst suspicions of man, causing only confirmed the King's worst suspicions of man, causing his wound to grow.  His only hope, he thought, was death.  his wound to grow.  His only hope, he thought, was death. 

Cont.Cont.Then one day, a fool was brought in to the King to cheer him.  He was Then one day, a fool was brought in to the King to cheer him.  He was

a simple-minded man, not particularly skilled, or admired.  He tells a simple-minded man, not particularly skilled, or admired.  He tells the King some jokes, sings him some songs, but the King feels even the King some jokes, sings him some songs, but the King feels even worse.  Finally, the fool says, "What is it that hurts you so much?  worse.  Finally, the fool says, "What is it that hurts you so much?  How can I help?"  How can I help?" 

And the king says, "I need a sip of water to cool my throat."  And the king says, "I need a sip of water to cool my throat."  So, the fool takes a cup from the bedstand, fills it with water and So, the fool takes a cup from the bedstand, fills it with water and

hands it to the King.  Suddenly, the King feels a lot better.  And hands it to the King.  Suddenly, the King feels a lot better.  And when he looks to his hands, he sees that it was the Holy Grail the when he looks to his hands, he sees that it was the Holy Grail the fool handed him, an ordinary cup that had been beside his bed all fool handed him, an ordinary cup that had been beside his bed all along.  along. 

And the King asks, "How can this be?  How could you find what all my And the King asks, "How can this be?  How could you find what all my knights and wisest men could not find?"  knights and wisest men could not find?" 

And the fool answers, "I don't know.  I only knew you were thirsty."  And the fool answers, "I don't know.  I only knew you were thirsty."  And for the first time since he was a boy, the King felt more than a And for the first time since he was a boy, the King felt more than a

man--not because he was touched by God's glory, but rather, by man--not because he was touched by God's glory, but rather, by the compassion of a fool.the compassion of a fool.

Characteristics of the mythCharacteristics of the myth

The Fisher King:The Fisher King: Depending on the author’s goal, some Depending on the author’s goal, some

texts highlight the king aspect and some texts highlight the king aspect and some texts highlight the fisher aspect.texts highlight the fisher aspect.– King:King:

responsible for the future of the kingdomresponsible for the future of the kingdomworldly wealth and power worldly wealth and power

FishermanFisherman

Fisherman: Fisherman: fishing skills may help to provide for his fishing skills may help to provide for his

people in a natural, honest way.people in a natural, honest way. The fish as Christian symbol—spiritual The fish as Christian symbol—spiritual

wealth, heavenly kingdom, fisher of wealth, heavenly kingdom, fisher of men, feeding the multitudesmen, feeding the multitudes

IdentifiersIdentifiers

Wound—usually in the area of the Wound—usually in the area of the groin (fertility), a leg, or thigh that groin (fertility), a leg, or thigh that inhibits him in some way and causes inhibits him in some way and causes pain and agony. pain and agony.

The wound (a blight) serves as a reminder of The wound (a blight) serves as a reminder of his greed (or misguided priorities) and his greed (or misguided priorities) and contributes to the infertility of the land contributes to the infertility of the land hindering the progress of his people or hindering the progress of his people or culture.culture.

Abode:Abode:

A castle in traditional A castle in traditional textstexts

Often made of gray Often made of gray stonestone

Place associated with Place associated with the grailthe grail

WastelandWasteland

• Sterility of the king reflected in the land– The sterile king espoused to the land results

in a barren land.

• Symbolic of social and moral decay in modern texts (or a metaphor for modern apathy)

HelperHelper

• May be a “fool” in some texts

• May be young and Naïve—metaphorical fool

• May be a knight that saves the king and the land

• In some texts, there are two fisher kings—father and son

The Red Knight

The king must be healed in order to restore fertility to the land

Obstacle: Often represented

as a red knight Red symbolizes

danger, anger, blood, and etc.

Identify Travis’s Red KnightIdentify Travis’s Red Knight

The GrailThe Grail Vessel associated with Vessel associated with

wealth—literal or wealth—literal or figurativefigurative

Wealth can be what it Wealth can be what it containscontains

Prize that must be Prize that must be possessed to restore possessed to restore fertility or orderfertility or order

Christian adaptation—Christian adaptation—Christ’s cup from the Christ’s cup from the last supper (not the last supper (not the original myth)original myth)

For Travis?For Travis?

Other elements of the mythOther elements of the myth

IndulgenceIndulgence– Often represented by hedonistic partying Often represented by hedonistic partying

where food and/or wine are consumed to where food and/or wine are consumed to excessexcess

avoid responsibilities by indulgingavoid responsibilities by indulging

RedemptionRedemption– Healing of the wound and restoration of the Healing of the wound and restoration of the

kingdomkingdom A brighter futureA brighter future

French words for "fisher" and “sinner" are almost French words for "fisher" and “sinner" are almost identical (identical (pêcheurpêcheur and and pécheurpécheur respectively). respectively).

Twists and TurnsTwists and Turns

A seemingly endless number of A seemingly endless number of adaptations of the myth exist adaptations of the myth exist throughout history from the earliest throughout history from the earliest writings till today. The number and writings till today. The number and extent of the variations make the extent of the variations make the characteristics difficult to pinpoint. characteristics difficult to pinpoint. Any new adaptation may incorporate Any new adaptation may incorporate bits and pieces from many or one of bits and pieces from many or one of the older versions.the older versions.

TEXTSMedieval Romance Fragments

• Chretien de Troyes, Conte del Graal (c. 1160-1180) • Wauchier de Denain, First Continuation (c. 1180-1200) • Robert de Boron, Didot-Perceval (c. 1191-1202) • The Mabinogion, Peredur (c. 1200) • Perlesvaus; The High History of the Grail (c. 1200) • Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parzival (c. 1217) • The Quest for the Holy Grail • Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur (1470)

Modern Fragments

• Robert Browning, 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came' (1855)

• Paul Verlaine, Parsifal (1886) • Jessie Weston, Sir Perceval (1896) • Madison Cawein, Wasteland (1913) • T. S. Eliot, The Waste Land (1922) • T. H. White, The Once and Future King (1939) • C. S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength (1946) • Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) • David Lodge, Small World (1984) • Donald Barthelme, Arthur Rex (1985) • Account from the film "The Fisher King" (1991) • Tim Powers, Last Call (1992)

           

Contemporary Film ExampleContemporary Film ExampleCHIEF BROMDEN (from Carol Pearson's essay,

"The Cowboy Saint and the Indian Poet: The Comic Hero in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." [Studies in American Humor 1,2 (October 1974), 91-98.]) Ken Kesey is a romantic. His wasteland is epitomized by Nurse Ratched, who "dreams of...a world of precision efficiency and tidiness like a pocket watch with a glass back, a place where the schedule is unbreakable and all the patients who aren't Outside, obedient under her beam, all wheelchair Chronics with catheter tubes run direct from every pantleg to the sewer under the floor." His alternative to an orderly, mechanistic world is found among the psychopaths (for example, McMurphy), schizophrenics (Chief Bromden), neurotics (Harding), and idiots (Pete) who inhabit an insane asylum because they cannot, or will not, become well-adjusted robots. In less analytical times, these lunatics and idiots were called fools. (from Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest [New York: Penguin Books,

                                       

Now Where Have You Seen Him Now Where Have You Seen Him Before?Before?

ReferencesReferences Overview Overview of the myth:of the myth:

– http://www.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/arthurian_legend/http://www.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/arthurian_legend/grail/fisher/grail/fisher/

Terry Gilliam’s movie: Terry Gilliam’s movie: The Fisher KingThe Fisher King – http://members.shaw.ca/GilliamsGrail/index.htmhttp://members.shaw.ca/GilliamsGrail/index.htm