WHO IS THE FISCHER KING?The legend of the Fisher King can be reduced to an archetypal status as the keeper of the Holy Grail, who resides at the ambiguous Grail Castle. It typically lies beyond some natural obstacle--a river, forest, or range of the castle, which is enshrouded by some enchantment [the Fisher King mystique]. Evidently it is not situated in any particular place; or if it is, it is not always visible to mortal eyes. There is no evidence in the romances that would suggest a permanent, static dwelling place, nor should we harbor any hope of one day finding its ruins. In most instances the castle is only found by chance, and rarely before nightfall. It is irresponsible to think that there is a conclusive answer to the matter of the Fisher King and his sacred charge, the Holy Grail. It is generally well-accepted that the fish is a symbol of Christ for Christ himself is known as the fisher, and the fishnet is the symbol of the Christian sermon. Accordingly, the name of the Fisher King is connected with the words of the Savior: "I shall make ye fishers of men" (Matthew IV.19) which would make anyone who converts a rich fisher, in this case anyone who converts to believe in the quest of the grail. The general conception of the Fisher King is that he is either very old or afflicted by some grievous wound and is invariably in a source of tremendous pain and agony, with an awkward inability to stand, leaving him impotent. The cause of the wound was from a spear and attributed to one of several different causes, among which are: the loss of faith, his love for a woman against a vow of chastity , or an accidental blow struck by a stranger in self-defense. The source of the wound is another disputed point of interest that has fostered various interpretations from romance writers. Chretien reports that the wound was inflicted with a spear thrust through the thigh, on or near the genitals, while others maintain that it was caused by a lance, and in some instances it is even a poisonous sword that doles out the wound. The image of the wasteland ultimately springs from an old Celtic belief in which the fertility of the land depended on the potency and virility of the king; the king was, in essence, espoused to his lands. The woes of the land are the direct result of the sickness or the maiming of the Fisher King. When his power wanes, the country is laid waste and the soil is rendered sterile as is his physical condition: the trees are without fruit, the crops fail to grow, even the women are unable to bear children.
