Arizona republican., 1908-01-19
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AMUSEMENTS
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"PARS SEAL"
And Is Christian Symbolic chsrac-
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In the famous spectacle. or, more correctly speaking. the Christian dra- ma of "Parsifal." which is now creat- ing such furore throughout the coun- try and which is to be presented in the Doris theatre, Tuesday. Jan. 21st, we have Richard Wagner's masterpiece. From a religious point of view, play wherein each and every character, ln- cident and accessory is more or less symbolicaI Of some Christian teaching, philosophical thought or problem of humanity.
 In the Holy Temple. with its noble Knights. we are intended to see in it's grandeur and beauty that state of the human mind and thought that is most acceptable to God. only the Knights who have reached that standard are admitted within the walls of the Holy Temple. The Holy Grail is here in tended to represent the actual Grace of God. When uncovered, the Grail sheds its lustrous gifts on all present. Without this divine sustenance- life within the Holy Temple is unbear- able. Faith without works of charity does not find favor in His presence.
 In Titurel. the faithful guardian of the Holy Grail, the author intended to represent a perfect type of the spi- ritual Utopia. the condition that was and that is to be. As long as the Grace of God was received by the un- covering Of the Holy Grail, Titurel and all within the sacred portals of the Holy Temple lived the life of faith. love and charity. When Titurel gave the Holy Grail to the safekeeping of his son Amfortas, who fell a victim to temptation and was in consequence unworthy to uncover the Grail. the old king Titurel died, the Knights lost their spiritual power. and Amfortas was a constant sufferer in body, mind and conscience. Such was the result Of sin and weakness when in the very presence of the Grace of God merely waiting for the asking.
 In the suffering figure of Amfortas we are led to see picture of poor sin ful humanity. brought to this condition through its own weakness and neglect. In the wound in the side of Amfortas, which will not heal We see a symbol of the conscience of man who. having committed a deadly wrong. hovers with him always as a reminder ot his sin. But even Amfortas. great as his crime has been, is finally redeemed and brought back to the favor and grace of God in the Holy Temple through penitence and his craving for salvation.
 Gurnemanz. tho. loyal servitor of the Holy Temple and its Knights. is seen as one who suffers fo rthe faults of others. yet not losing faith in God. {e- fin cd for h cfa and loyalty.
 In tks character of KlingsOr we sec the ever present type of the tempter and evil doer who. being unworthy Of Gods favor himself, seeks to ruin and degrade all who are more fortunate. Klingsor is denied admission to the Holy Temple. In revenge he tries by every artifice and means to bring ruin upon tine heads of the Knights of the Holy Grail. His magic Flower Garden and it's beauteous maidens, by which he tries to accomplish his design. is likcued to the vanities and frivolities of the world that are inclined to blind ones eyes to the true path and so rem der one less liable to successfully re- sist falling into the pit and before him. In the character of Kundrv witch and enchantress. We recognize at once 9 female type of the 'Jekyll and Hyde" order. The author intended to DOT tray with this character the ordinary human love in contrast to that high CT and spiritual love that we instinct lively crave for. But we sec more than this. however. in the character Of Kundry. We perceive the dreadful detphs that polluted passion and de- Si"C, so often mistaken for the ennobl- ing natural love. can lead one Go. We sea in this beings dual nature. even at its worst stage. the instinctive craving Tor release from her bondage |