Percival 2

1) Blanchflor’s name is interesting because it seems to imply a contradiction: the color white typically represents a kind of purity and innocence, while a flower (as seen in La Celestina) may often represent a woman’s sexuality. This contrast of innocence and reality is seen on numerous occasions with Blancheflor when she speaks to Percival: “She pretended to discourage him by her words, though in fact she wished him to fight; but it often happens that one hides one’s true desires when one sees someone who is keen to enact them, in order to increase his desire to fulfill them” (also seen in La Celestina). There is also the fact that though Chretien describes her as an object of desire, “an unsurpassed marvel to dazzle men’s hearts and minds,” she rejects the advances of Clamadeu, and though she herself is “charming and splendid,” her kingdom is wasting away before her eyes. Also, the first time she visits Percival in bed she means “no wickedness or evil” by it. In light of the fact that Percival also protects Blanchflor and her kingdom from Clamadeu, all of these things cold indicate that Blancheflor represents a protection of the innocent for Percival, who is anything but “charming and splendid” himself. On that note, I find it interesting that the red color of Percival’s attire is constantly mentioned throughout the text – this could be a direct contrast to the white purity that Blancheflor represents. The red color of Percival’s armor could be reminiscent of blood, and thereby passion, in contrast to Blancheflor’s calculating intellect. It is interesting to look at this theme when considering the concept of matriarchal and patriarchal society: the red represents and unrestrained, blood-spilling, violent passion while the white seems to temper or control this kind of behavior (this theme is repeated in the scene with the blood on the snow).

3) I thought it was interesting that the blood on the snow was caused by a bird, when the first thing that Chretien compares Blancheflor to is a bird (specifically “a sparrow-hawk or a parrot”). This reference back to Blancheflor is explicated when Percival immediately recalls Blancheflor when he sees the goose’s blood. In Christianity, the goose’s call is often thought to be a warning of imminent wickedness; considering that this episode may be a possible foreshadowing of sinister events, or perhaps even Percival’s effect on Blancheflor (if the hawk that attacked the goose is read as a representation of Percival), it is ironic that Percival reacts with joy when he sees the blood: “As he gazed upon this sight, it pleased him so much that he felt as if he were seeing the fresh color if his fair lady’s face.” The fact that blood reminds Percival of Blanchflor is pretty creepy… I’m thinking that there is a possible connection between this and the fact that the hawk attacked the goose without actually obtaining it – representing an unrequited struggle, perhaps?