This comment was written by Marisela Gonzales on 5 Apr 2016.

E 326K // Literature of the Middle Ages in Translation: Mysteries of the Grail

Parzival and Cundrie v. Parsifal and Kundry

I am comparing the first meeting of Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival with Cundrie in Book VI (page 132-135) to Wagner’s Parsifal meeting Kundry for the first time (54:34 – 58:00). In Wagner’s opera Parsifal is speaking to Gurnamanz while Kundry listens in. She joins in the conversation when Gurnamanz inquiries about Parsifal’s nobility and lack of knowledge concerning weapons. Kundry informs him that Parsifal was raised without a father. Even though it is their first meeting Kundry seems to know more about Parsifal than Parsifal himself. Kundry continues to tell Gurnamanz about Parsifal’s background while they both listen intently. Kundry mocks Parsifal for being a fool and even laughs at him. Kundry remains on the ground facing away from Parsifal and Gurnamanz as she speaks. Parsifal seems to be unaware that he is being made fun of as he agrees excitedly that she is right and then goes on to describe how he came to know of the knights and started his own adventures. The music is fast paced at this point and becomes more dramatic as Kundry joins Parsifal in the telling of his adventures. The tone of the music changes when Parsifal ask Gurnamanz who is good and he answers saying that Parsifal’s mother was good. Kundry then reveals to Parsifal that his mother is dead. The music seems to mirror Parsifal’s surprise and grief to hear of his mother’s death. The scene escalates as Kundry insults Parsifal calling him a fool again as she describes passing by his dying mother. Parsifal attacks Kundry and they struggle until Gurnamanz is able to break them apart. Kundry ends up on the ground while Parsifal is standing to the side distraught over the news she told him. The music during this part is much softer. Gurnamanz defends Kundry saying that she only told the truth and Parsifal is so filled with grief that he cannot catch his breath and proceeds to faint. Kundry quickly runs off to bring something to help wake him.
The two meetings are extremely different, however they do share general similarities. One difference is where the meetings take place. Wolfram’s Parzival meets Cundrie when she appeared before Arthur and Knights of the Round Table. While Wagner’s Parsifal meets Kundry while speaking to Gurnamanz before entering the grail castle. Another distinction is that Wolfram’s Parzival met Cundrie after he had already entered the grail castle. The Characterization of the messenger is also different. The Cundrie in Wolfram wears fine clothes and is seen as someone wealthy of a high social class, she also seems to hold her head high and to be more direct. While Wagner’s Kundry is more disheveled and spends most of the time hugging the ground. Kundry is not well kept and rarely makes eye contact with speaking, her insults are also less harsh than Wolfram’s Cundrie. However, they do share some similarities, for example both are messengers who bring bad news but speak the truth. They are also both depicted as being fiercely loyal.

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