1. The Natural and Short Stories of the Modernist Era

2. The Natural by Bernard Malamud
Set roughly in the 1940s, this novel was published at the very end of the Modernist Era, but its main character, Roy Hobbs, is the quintessential Modernist and Existentialist anti-hero
Roy Hobbs cannot escape his own personal demons despite great talent and an exceptional drive toward personal excellence.
He is haunted by dreams where he is always traveling through mountains and woods, yet his most important dream, being the best who ever played the game of baseball, is left unfulfilled.

3. Female Characters
Memo Paris: draws the “hero” into her web. For Roy she is the prize for being the best. Unlike Daisy Buchanan or Judy Jones, who seem to bring out the best in their suitors, Memo represents the distraction, which keeps Roy from his dreams. She appears beautiful on the surface, but has a physical deformity. Even Pop, her uncle, knows she is bad news. Like so much else, Roy’s desire for her is unquenched. Iris Lemon: she is the source of inspiration for Roy and the only positive female companion he has had in his life. She represents a mother figure and fertility; she also has the key to his success—learn from his mistakes—which seems to be the advice he doesn’t take. She is a mother and a grandmother, a life-giving force. Harriet Bird: She is fatally attracted to the best athletes. She represents Roy’s fatalistic desires, later represented in a less sinister way by Memo.

4. Triumph and Defeat
Whammer: Roy’s first adversary. Taunts the young hero and is overcome. Max Mercy: A constant thorn in Roy’s side from the first moments of the novel. Not as fatalistic as Harriet, he seeks the downfall of the hero. He searches for the ugliness underneath surface beauty. Bump Baily: Not much different than the Whammer. Yet Roy’s similarities to him seem to attract fans and Memo. Otto Zipp: A dwarf right out of medieval literature

5. Triumph and Defeat
Gus Sands: He too represents the seamy underside of baseball. For the most part Roy resists the temptation to cash in on Gus’ gambling but the attraction to the “action”, and that Gus controls Memo, keeps Roy around. The Judge: Both Roy’s and Pop’s biggest nemesis. He is obviously tied to both Gus and Memo and temps Roy toward his downfall. He takes advantage of Roy’s naiveté and greed.

6. Pop and Red
Pop Fisher: a character right out of the Perceval legend—the Fisher King. Roy’s actions can heal Pop, his hands, and the Knights in general (life giving rain follows Roy’s joining the team). Famous for the Fisher Flop, Pop can be redeemed by Roy his past failures. Red Blow: From Medieval lit = Gournamond. Like Sam Simpson, a supportive and teaching character, a positive father figure. Does his best to keep Roy (and Pop) on the path to success, nurturing the hero

7. Roy as the Grail Knight
Bernard Malamud wrote The Natural as a modern day (and modernist) take on the story of Percival. Roy is on a life-long quest to achieve his Grail—baseball immortality. His “Excalibur” (magic sword) is Wonderboy. Eventually he takes on the healing of Pop and Knights. He is lured to his downfall several times along his journey. Unlike Percival, Roy does not learn from his past nor gain from his mistakes. Roy also restores health to Pop and life (rain) to the knight’s kingdom.

8. Roy as the Grail Knight
Roy is unable to achieve his Grail—baseball immortality—because of personal faults, much in line with tragic heroes. He is lured by lust—women—and the need for personal fame (and everything that comes with it) and fulfillment. IN CONTRAST, Percival, once he learns that the Grail is more about serving others and remaining right and just, achieves his Grail through focus and dedication. Perceval learns from his mistakes; Roy even states that he does not.