Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

agony from his unclosed wound; but he has heard in a vision that the only person who can bring
back the sacred spear, and thus cure him, is one who is " A Blameless Fool" - one who, simple and
pure, shall, from perfect whole-hearted sympathy with the sufferers agony, realise the woes of
suffering humanity, and by such loving pity bring redemption. As the opera opens this deliverer is
at hand, though not recognised. First the witch-maiden, Kundry, appears, bearing a healing balm
which she entreats shall be laid upon the suffering Kings wound; for the siren, though having
fallen a slave to the evil sorcerer Klingsor, is at times released from her servitude, and at such
seasons endeavours to atone for the sinful deeds by performing acts of kindness to all she comes in
contact with, her better nature being ever at war with the evil, which latter is encouraged by her
ruthless master. She is under this curse because she mocked the Saviour on the Cross, and she
longs passionately for release, which can only be achieved when some man shall be strong enough
to resist her seductive temptations. Her present gift to Amfortas fails to bring him relief, for he
knows only too well that none but the promised " Guileless Fool " can save him. At this moment
exclamations of anger arise from the Knights as one of their sacred swans falls dead, pierced by
the shaft of a stranger, whom they drag forward. This is Parsifal, a beautiful youth, who is,
however, so simple and ignorant of the world and of the human heart that he does not even know
that he has done wrong, since he has never yet experienced the human feeling of pity. Kundry,
who has been a world-wanderer, explains that the youth has been brought up in the forest, and has
no knowledge of the outside world nor of any woman except his own mother, whom he recently
left in order that he might wander forth alone; and on learning from Kundry that his mother has
since died of grief at his loss, his heart is stirred for the first time by this, his first grief. Gurmanez,
seeing the noble qualities which lie undeveloped in the youth, whom he thinks may perhaps be
"The Guileless Fool " who is so eagerly expected, takes him into the Sanctuary to behold the
sacred service of revealing the Holy Grail; and here again, on beholding the agonies of the
wounded King, who is commanded by his aged father, Titurel, to perform the ceremony, the
stranger places his hand with a convulsive movement over his heart, as though filled with an
emotion entirely new and strange to him. The holy ceremony of the beautiful Feast of Love,
however, makes no impression upon him, nor does he understand the agonies of conscious guilt as
expressed by the unhappy sufferer; and Gurmanez, impatient at such seeming stupidity, and
deeming him a fool indeed, thrusts him outside once more, knowing that he must first experience
the stabs of passion and temptation in himself, and conquer the same, before he can understand
and feel sympathy for the woes and sins of others. But Parsifal has already begun to realise his
mission in life, and the wish grows up within him to bring healing and relief to the suffering King;
and he therefore sets out to storm the stronghold of Klingsors Evil, and to bring back the sacred
spear.
In Act 2 he is seen in the Magicians Enchanted Garden of Pleasure, where lovely maidens of
enticing beauty use all their endeavours vainly to seduce him. When Kundry appears, however, in
a form more beautiful and irresistible than any of the others, and at the command of Klingsor is
compelled, against her will, to lure him within her toils, although he resists for long, she at last
appears to conquer; but as she bestows on him the first kiss of love he springs to his feet and
repulses her. For this kiss has awakened in him world-knowledge, and he realises the great truth of
redemption by grace, and understands that, by conquering temptation, he can become worthy of
bringing salvation to the stricken King, whose sufferings have awakened such sweet pity within
his heart. He therefore now sternly resists the further temptations of Kundry, who calls upon her
master for help; but when the enraged Klingsor, recognising in this noble youth the Blameless and