Perceval In Chretien De Troyes Arthurian Romances

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Perceval, in Chretien de Troyes’ Arthurian Romances, is a character who throughout the development of his story, forces the readers to question his potential for change. The beginning of his story shows a young man who has no experience with society and no idea how to treat people. As Perceval meets more and more people, he is provided the opportunities to change and become a better person and knight. In each of the different situations, Perceval is always faced with a choice – to stay in his current condition, or to listen to the advice he has received and change. One of the primary questions established at the beginning of the story is not whether Perceval will choose to make a change or not, but whether or not he is capable of change at …show more content…
Up to this point, Perceval’s response to getting advice from others has been one of ignorance and apathy. After this training in being a knight, the slight changes in his character have become visible with his response of blessing onto the vavasour who had given him advice as he was leaving in order to try and find what happened to his mother. This response shows change on multiple levels. Firstly, Perceval has learned the basics of being a knight and has progressed towards the ideal of the chivalrous knight. The image of the ideal knight is presented in a manner as if it represented the ideal knight, but, “by no means, however, do all knights in Chretien’s works, or even most of them, conform to Gornemant’s ideal” of what the ideal knight is (Duggan. Knights and Ladies. 11). Second, he is showing respect for the advice giver and is willing to try and implement what the Gornemant is trying to teach him. Third, he is leaving to return to his mother to find out what happened to her after he left her and she collapsed upon his departure to become a knight. Change for good—listened to his mother when he kissed the lady in the tent and stole her
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