Parsifal is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, the medieval epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival (Percival). The poem is commonly dated circa the first quarter of the 13th century. The poem is, in part, an adaptation of Chretien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail and mainly centers on the Arthurian hero Parzival (Percival in English) and his long quest for the Holy Grail, following his initial failure to achieve it. A long middle section is devoted to Parzival’s friend Gawan and his adventures defending himself from a false murder charge and winning the hand of the maiden Orgeluse.

Book I opens with the death of King Gandin, Parzival’s grandfather. His oldest son, Galoes, receives the kingdom but offers his brother Gahmuret the land of Anjou in fief. However, Gahmuret departs to gain renown. He travels to the African kingdom of Zazamanc, whose capital is under siege from two different armies. Gahmuret offers his services to the city, and his offer is accepted by Queen Belacane. He conquers the invaders, marries Queen Belacane, and becomes king of Zazamanc and Azagouc. Growing bored with peace, Gahmuret steals away on a ship, abandoning his pregnant wife. Belacane later gives 

  Parzival, acrylic by Izabel Ea-kapu

birth to a son, Feirefiz, whose skin is black with white spots.

In Book II, Gahmuret returns to the West, where he meets and marries Queen Herzeloyde. Ever restless, however, he soon returns to fight for the Baruch in the Far East, where he is later killed by a treacherous acquaintance.

Book III tells of how the pregnant Herzeloyde, grief-stricken at her husband’s death, retires to a secluded forest dwelling and vows to protect her new child, Parzival, from the ways of knighthood at all costs by raising him entirely ignorant of chivalry and the ways of men. His seclusion is shattered by four knights passing who tell him of King Arthur’s court at Camelot. Enamored, he decides to go join Arthur’s court. His mother is heartbroken at the news of his decision but allows him to depart, dressing him in fool’s garments in the hopes that the knights will refuse to take him in. Soon after his departure she dies, utterly bereft.

  Parzival and Condwiramurs, oil by Albert Belasco

The first part of the journey takes place completely in the world of King Arthur, where the colorful and strange appearance of Parzival awakens the interest of the court. After becoming entangled in courtly intrigue between Duke Orilus and his wife Jesuchte, he meets his cousin Sigune, who reveals to him his true name. Parzival also fights and kills Ither, the red knight. Putting on the red knight’s armor, he rides away from the court and meets Gurnemanz, from whom he learns the duties of a knight, especially self-control and moderation. Gurnemanz also gives him the advice to avoid curiosity.

In Book IV, Parzival meets and falls in love with the maiden Condwiramurs when he lends his aid to her town, which is under siege. They marry, but he leaves soon afterward to seek news of his mother.

In Book V, he arrives at the castle of the Grail. He does not ask his host, the Fisher King Anfortas, about his mysterious wound, however, or about the magical object before him, remembering Gurnemanz’s advice to be not too curious. The next morning Parzival finds himself completely alone in a totally deserted castle, leading him to speculate that his experiences of the previous night were an illusion conjured by malevolent spirits to snare him.

Parzival returns to the world of Arthur and again meets Sigune, who

now explains him that his mother Herzeloyde is the sister of the dangerously ill Anfortas, king of the grail. He also meets Jeschute again, who was unwittingly humiliated by him the last time, and he defeats Orilus in a single combat. Eventually Parzival renews the marriage of Jeschute and Orilus.

Parzival returns in Book VI as a perfect potential member of the Round Table to King Arthur. But during a festive meal Cundrie, messenger of the grail, appears, curses Parzival in the name of the grail and claims that Parzival had lost his honor. Parzival immediately leaves the court, even though he is not able to understand his guilt.

For a while (Books VII-VIII) Gawan takes over as the central figure of the book, trying to clear his name of a false charge of murder.

In Book IX, we learn that Parzival fights for the good, but he suffers from his distance to God. After nearly five years of wandering and fighting, from combat he gains a new horse, one owned by a grail knight, and this horse leads him one Good Friday to Trevrizent to whom he introduces himself as a regretful sinner. He stays with this holy man for fourteen days. From him he learns about the hidden meaning of life and the true meaning of the grail.

With that action Parzival makes the first step to a life of spiritual understanding. Through his loneliness and through his yearning for the grail and for Condwiramurs he puts himself outside the world of Arthur. He is called to another world, that of the grail.

Books X-XIV tell of Gawan’s attempts to win the hand of the maiden Orgeluse.

In Book XV, Parzival fights with a knight who is the first to seem more adept even than he. Parzival’s sword breaks, but instead of slaying him, the other knight sees no honor in such a feat and both retire to the grass. There they learn that they share the same father. "I was against my own self," says Parzival to Feirefiz, his brother from afar. Again Cundrie appears and proclaims now that Parzival’s name has appeared on the grail, marking him as the new grail king.

During his journey to the grail in Book XVI Parzival reunites with his wife and takes Feirefiz as a companion. Feirefiz cannot see the grail, but he can see the grail maiden and promptly falls in love with her.