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... l as fools. They both are fools in the sense that they both come from the country and make fools of themselves when they try to adapt to the sophisticated ways of both baseball and knighthood (Helterman 23 - 24). Roy shows himself a fool when Bump Bailey, the star player of the Knights when Roy joins the team, tricks Roy into trading rooms with him and Memo Paris inadvertently fornicates with Roy, because she thinks it is her boyfriend, Bump. Percival shows himself a fool when he fails to ask the Fisher King about the Grail procession that he had just witnessed, because if he had asked then the Fisher Kings ailment of bandaged hands would have been healed. Both Roy and Percival are heroes because they were both called to heal the Pop Fisher, who represents the Fisher King, and restore life to the Knights field, which represents the Arthurian wasteland (Helterman 24).
The most significant similarity between Roy Hobbs and Percival is that they are both too wrapped in their self image to recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with their great talent (Helterman 24). Other characters have functions in the myth as well. Harriet Bird acts as the woman, in the tradition of grail mythology, who is sent to the hero, Roy, for his worthiness (Richman 32). She performs this function when she shoots Roy, and in turn, Roy proves his worthiness by returning to baseball fifteen years later. Memo Paris functions as a temptress and is described as a green-eyed siren (Malamud, Natural, 175) when she lies on the bed as Roy falls terribly ill. Memo has evolved from the Arthurian Morgan le Fay, a temptress who kills many knights (Wasserman 49).
Memo symbolizes death as she has a sick breast and is forever mourning for the dead Bump Bailey, after he crashes into the outfield fence and dies. Iris Lemon is the foil to Memo Paris, in that she represents life and fertility, for she has a daughter as well as a granddaughter at an early age. Iris seems to be the embodiment of the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian mythology, for both women help knights, Roy in Iris case, and Iris knows Lake Michigan intimately by often swimming there (Wasserman 49). Gus Sands, the underhanded bookie, is the modern day embodiment of Merlin the Magician, for he seems to manipulate the outcome of every event so that he always wins (Wasserman 49). Sam Simpson functions as Roy's initial guide, as all Arthurian heroes have a guide, in place of Roy's father (Richman 31).
Pop Fisher represents the Fisher King, who is also known as the Sinner King, whose lands have been barren since he sinned long ago. Pop Fisher has not won a pennant since his famous Fisher Flop, his sin, and the Knights field is dry and the stands are empty (Helterman 26). Pop and the Fisher King even suffer the same affliction, a rash on the hands (Wasserman 47 - 48). Many elements of Arthurian mythology likewise enhance the story. Within the story, numerous events occur that parallel the sort of event that occurs in mythology. When Pop tells Roy to knock the cover off of [the ball] (Malamud, Natural 70), Roy does so and, in turn, mystically ends a drought and heals Pops ailment (Hershinow 23).
Even earlier, when Roy strikes out the Whammer Whambold, the greatest player of Roy's youth, his feat is an inspiring sight of David jawboning the Goliath-Whammer, or was it Sir Percy lancing Sir Maldemer, or the first son (with a rock in his paw) (Malamud, Natural 24), the act of a novice defeating a well respected expert. Another likeness between the story and mythology is the scene in which one opponent, sick at the thought of pitching to Roy, envisions him in full armor mounted on a black charger coming at him with a long lance (Wasserman 47). The Knights quest for the pennant is similar to the Arthurian quest for the Holy Grail in that although they forever search for it, they cannot attain it (Wasserman 47). Roy's bat, Wonderboy, is also a source of mythological parallels. Wonderboy is made from the wood of a lightning-stricken tree, and seems to have mystical powers that are derived from natures own (Wasserman 48). Wonderboy is so brilliantly white that an umpire orders Roy to dull the bat, because its shine blinds the opposing pitchers.
Wonderboy is to Roy as Excalibur was to Arthur, in that both Roy and Arthur are invincible when they are using Wonderboy or Excalibur, but are very conquerable without them (Helterman 35). When Wonderboy breaks, and Roy must use an ordinary Louisville Slugger, Roy strikes out because he is powerless without Wonderboy. Not only does the story contain mythical events and descriptions, but it also holds to the basic laws of Arthurian Grail mythology. The first section, before Roy is shot, establishes its mythic pattern: a young hero sets out in search of fame and fortune; encounters and conquers an aging hero, the Whammer; and he is laid low by a mysterious temptress, Harriet Bird (Hershinow 22).
The events of the first part of the novel also parallel the events of the second and recapitulate the mythic formula of initiation, a hero sets out on a quest, separation, the hero is deterred from his quest, and return, the hero returns to his quest, when taken together (Richman 30). The story also has a theme of fertility and rebirth. When an old Roy is struck out, in his final game, by the young opposing pitcher, Young berry, the mythic Arthurian fertility cycle is completed: an aging hero is beaten by a rising ace (Tanner 131). The theme of rebirth is prevalent as Roy returns to baseball as a Knight after being shot by Harriet Bird (Hays 91). As the story holds to the laws of Arthurian mythology, it more greatly resembles the Arthurian myth. Bernard Malamud's novel The Natural is the modern day embodiment of the Arthurian myth.
Since baseball is the foundation of contemporary mythology, the story holds a greater mythical significance, as it includes many parallels to actual baseball events. Characters create parallels between the story and Arthurian mythology, and in turn, create a mythic atmosphere. Mythical elements in the story educe the feeling of an Arthurian myth from it. The Natural is a modern day Arthurian myth.
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Research essay sample on Modern Day Embodiment Shows Himself A Fool Roy
