The Exploratory Hero in Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes: An Interpretation from the Thought of Jordan Peterson

Sánchez-Costa E. · Tirant (2021) · DOI: 10.7203/tirant.24.22073

Resumen

This article uses Jordan Peterson’s mythological representation scheme (derived from Jung’s analysis of archetypes) to offer a novel interpretation of Chretien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail. It concludes that Perceval is the exploratory hero who ventures into the world of the unknown (the forest, the unexplored, chaos, Nature, the Great Mother), to extract knowledge that revitalizes tradition. When facing the unknown (the dragon of chaos) the hero risks his physical and moral integrity. He even misses the ideal for years, but his humility (his cognitive openness) saves him. He acknowledges his ignorance and is spiritually reborn. It is to be conjectured, according to the internal logic of this unfinished narrative, that the hero will continue to search for the spear and the Grail; until, finding them, he cures the invalidity of the Fisher King and restores fertility to his lands (and in this way, symbolically, he also redeems his father from his disgraceful death and green the lands of the Barren Forest). Thus, Perceval, the exploratory hero, the knower, will update what is already known (chivalry, the explored, the order, the Culture, the Great Father), creatively transforming it.

Instituciones: Universidad de Piura