Charakterisierung, Funktion und Repraesentation der Artusfigur in Wolframs von Eschenbach 'Parzival' und Adolf Muschgs 'Der Rote Ritter. Eine Geschichte von Parzival'.

摘要

A comparative analysis of the characterizations, functions, and modes of representation of King Arthur in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and Adolf Muschg's Der Rote Ritter. Eine Geschichte von Parzival reveals that both authors utilize Arthur to comment on their social and cultural environments: Wolfram portrays Arthur as an exemplary ruler, making him a powerful role model for his contemporary audience. By contrast, Muschg's highly complex Arthur functions as (self-) ironic representative of a gradually waning, decadent, albeit not entirely degenerated Arthurian world. He also reminds the reader of the civilizing impact and cultural achievements of the chivalric era as it gives way to an early-modern capitalist society.;Wolfram's approach marks a conscious departure from Chretien's passive Arthur figure in Le Conte du Graal, but his novel, all-encompassing genealogical scheme threatens to cast a shadow upon Arthur's integrity during Parzival's first visit to the Arthurian court. Wolfram here evades a negative representation by restricting Arthur's presence and moments of direct speech. Subsequent scenes, leading up to the great celebration at Joflanze in Book XV, reveal Wolfram's continued effort to improve on Arthur's character: Arthur now not only functions as chief representative of the Arthurian society, but also as an astute military leader and skilful diplomat, always acting in accord with the rules of courtly conduct and the counsel of his peers.;Muschg strips Arthur of his function as a role model, endows him with a fully-developed psyche, and confronts him with an outside world eager to transcend the chivalric mindset. He gradually exposes facets of Arthur's character that show him to be humane, resourceful, and reflective, after first creating the impression that Arthur is a shallow, powerless, and ridiculous, even repulsive figure. From the outset, Arthur is linked to the ideality represented by the Round Table and iconic Arthurian knights such as Erec, Gawan, and Lanzelot who act in full awareness of their (literary) adventures. By the end of Muschg's narrative, Arthur has evolved into the archivist of the Arthurian stories and as the keeper of the Arthurian tradition. Arthur thus functions as a counterbalance to Muschg's Arthurian society in its present, declining state.