The Fisher King is the Keeper of the Grail from Arthurian legend. The legend of the Grail has many variations, but the main myth is that it was the chalice used to capture the blood of Christ from the crucifixion. Joseph of Aremethia is said to have performed this act and then brought the Grail to England and entrusted it to the Fisher King. He is a king who has been wounded in the leg or groin (depending on the author,) by the Spear of Destiny, which is the spear that was used to torment Christ on the crucifix. The wound is said render him impotent and through his ties to the land, causes his kingdom to become a wasteland. To heal him required four holy relics and the Grail question. These relics were a sword with heavenly power (the Sword in the Stone,) a cauldron which provides sustenance to it's owner, The Spear of Destiny, and the Fisher King's Crown. It is said that Sir Galahad and Perceval were the only two to complete the quest and achieve the Holy Grail.
In Mystery Train, there are homages paid to the Fisher King myth. In one scene, Charlie is "fishing" outside his barber shop. It is said the Fisher King could no longer ride, so he spent his spare time fishing. When they arrive at the hotel, Charlie is in possession of the remaining bottle of booze. This is symbolic of the Grail, the reward the other two are seeking after the shooting of the liquor store owner. As a result of the scuffle with Johnny, Charlie is shot in the upper thigh with the gun. This is similar to the wound the Fisher King received from the spear. In the final scenes of the film, Charlie is asking to see a doctor, presumably so he can be "healed." This is reminiscent of the Fisher King's yearning to be healed by the seekers of the Grail.
Jim Jarmusch used these pieces from the legend beautifully throughout the film. If you did not know the legend of the Fisher King, these different scenes would just be a piece of the movie and not part of a larger literary allusion.
Thank you Erin for that insightful information. The only thing I knew of the quest for the Holy Grail was from the version depicted by the crew of Monte Python. So, the store clerk was an innocent man shot with the same weapon as Charlie, so is he supposed to represent Christ? My guess is no and that I am just thinking to deeply about the whole experience. I for one think that these "symbols" are quite a stretch for the original legend of the Fisher King, so to the contrary, maybe I'm not thinking deeply enough.
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