Chaucer’s epic poem, Troilus and Criseyde, offers an ambiguous question as to whether or not Criseyde truly consents to the intimate relationship with Troilus. While Troilus falls instantly in love in Book 1, Criseyde falls in “love” gradually, if love is even what she is truly feeling. Although Criseyde eventually gives what seems to be vague consent, we cannot be certain if real love prompts her to do so or if there is another force at work. Evidence from the text tells us that it is not real consent or real love, but the ethical responsibility that Criseyde feels that she has for Troilus and Pandarus’s well-being after Pandarus threatens her with their deaths and pressures her in various other ways. The language throughout the poem insinuates …show more content…
For example, in Book II, he tells her to “Doth what yow lest to make hym lyve or deye. / But if ye late hym deyen, I wol sterve” (II. 322-23). By doing so, he essentially gives Criseyde a choice: either she will give in and love Troilus in return, or Troilus and Pandarus will both die and she will be blamed for two deaths. Obviously, Criseyde would not want either of them to die because of her, so she hardly has a real choice. It is important to note that while Pandarus manipulates Criseyde into giving Troilus a chance, she only agrees to be nice to him, not to love him. When given the ultimatum, she decides that “Of harmes two, the lesse is for to chese; / Yet have I levere maken hym good chere” (II. 470-71). The hesitation in her answer and her decision to only compromise and not fully submit to what is being asked of her illustrates her reluctance to even consider Troilus as a possible suitor. More concerned with society’s views of her as a widow, it is clear that in this moment that her intentions of consenting to a relationship or any sexual act is slim to none. The actual moment of Criseyde’s supposed “consent” to the consummation, is concealed behind language suggesting male conquest as the main priority of the night. The question, “What myghte or may the sely larke seye, / Whan that the sperhauk hath it in his foot?”, is purposely placed in this area of the poem to set …show more content…
For example, Pandarus’s behavior when he visits Criseyde’s room after the consummation is questionable as “With that his arm al sodeynly he thriste / Under hire nekke, and at the laste hire kyste” (III. 1574-75). For Pandarus to kiss his own niece in bed is strange, and also appears to be an act of violation in Criseyde’s private space. The narrator then goes on to describe Pandarus and Criseyde’s interaction by saying, “and with here uncle gan to pleye” (III. 1578). The word “pleye” drags along sexual and connotations, especially because the two are laying in bed. Although these actions are typical for his character and might not be a point of concern, it is definitely suggesting an image of sexuality along with an image of Criseyde’s vulnerability to male characters in the poem. Likewise, language is often more sexualized when it is speaking of Criseyde with men. When Criseyde refuses to take the letter from Troilus out of fear for her reputation, Pandarus “hente hire faste, / And in hire bosom the letter down he thraste” (II. 1154-1155). Even if what is actually happening is not meant to be sexual, the language used leaves room for ambiguity as Pandarus “thraste” a letter in her “bosom”. Similarly, the idea of ravishment is brought up in Book IV when Pandarus advises Troilus to “Go ravysshe here”, or
seriously as we can see that he is not meant to be a character that we
This whole tale clearly depicts the injustice that occurred upon John just because he was extremely gullible. It was not fair that his society believed the words of few, rather than actually investigating the truth. This social problem was exploited throughout the tale. This also applies to love itself. In this tale, “everything is fair in love and war”, but Chaucer clearly shows society should not be like this. Society should not take into account love, but facts. Whomever is at fault should be punished, but not the way as Chaucer depicts society to
Nelson, Marie. "Biheste is Dette: Marriage promises in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales." 2001. Dept. of English, Wentworth University. 15 July 2003 <http://www.wentworth.edu/nelson/chaucer>
Forbes, Shannon. "'To Alisoun Now Wol I Tellen Al My Love-Longing': Chaucer's Treatment of the Courtly Love Discourse in the Miller's Tale." Women's Studies 36.1 (2007): 1-14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 May 2013
A main purpose of women in the poem is to define the characters of Odysseus and Penelope. Women's seductive natures serve as a test of character for Odysseus. His choice to leave the sexual pleasures of Kirke and Calypso is proof of his virtue and desirability as a husband. The same depiction causes the virtuous Penelope to stand out in the large pool of vileness as a desirable wife. The contradictions also have a significant affect on the poem and the reader.
Medieval and Renaissance literature develops the concepts of love and marriage and records the evolution of the relation between them. In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Christian love clashes with courtly love, as men and women grapple with such issues as which partner should rule in marriage, the proper, acceptable role of sex in marriage, and the importance of love as a basis for a successful marriage. Works by earlier writers portray the medieval literary notion of courtly love, the sexual attraction between a chivalric knight and his lady, often the knight's lord's wife. The woman, who generally held mastery in these relationships based on physical desire and consummation, dictated the terms of the knight's duties and obligations, much like a feudal lord over a vassal. This microcosm of romance between man and woman was anchored by the macrocosm of the bonds among men and their fealty to their lord. The dominance of women and fealty to the leader in courtly love contrasts with the dominance ...
Atwood is playing with two levels of myth here: the Homeric myth of ‘faithful Penelope’ and cultural myths about women as either submissive or domestic (Howell 9). After marriage Penelope spends most of her time alone in boredom and Eurycelia, former nurse of Odysseus, often reminds her duties as wife by saying, “So you can have a nice big son for Odysseus. That’s your job” (63). Furthermore, Atwood recounts the vulnerability of alone woman in the male dominated world. To grab opportunity of being king, a number of suitors assemble at Ithaca, to marry Penelope, and she thinks, “They all were vultures when they spot the dead cow: one drops, then another, until finally every vulture for miles around is tearing up the carcass” (103). Moreover, Atwood argues about the partiality of sexual of freedom along with the vexed relationship between man and woman, as the former can do sex with any other woman such as Odysseus’s affairs with the goddess and whores, but the woman is restricted to marriage like Penelope. The foremost fatuous allegation makes on Penelope is about her faithfulness and loyalty for her husband Odysseus, and she defends herself from any sexual conduct in the chapter, “slanderous gossip”. The death of Amphinomus, the politest suitor among all, leaves the question of marital infidelity among the genders.
In the Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chaucer illustrates the different perspective between men and women on the concept of marriage and love. In The Wife of Bath’s tale, it is shown the woman appreciating marriage and wanting to be able to love a man unconditionally as where in The Miller’s Tale, love isn’t anything, but sex with the man in the story. In accordance with Chaucer, the complication with marriage is that men are consumed by sexual desire and are easily abused by women like The Wife of Bath. As noticed, The Miller’s Tale is all about adultery. “Just like men, the wives have secrets, as does God”, says the Miller. Both have information that the other do not know about that are sacred and better left unsaid.
It is important to notice that Chaucer meant this story to be comical not serious nor moral. The first definition of porn from Merriam-Webster is the depiction of erotic behavior such as in pictures or writing intended to cause sexual arousal. In this story there were no pictures nor writing to cause sexual arousal. Yes, of course there were bits and pieces of sexual relations and activity, but not the point where it caused sexual arousal. The narrat...
The Range of Feelings Associated with Love in Catullus and Lesbia' Poems Of Catullus’s poems, the Lesbia poems are the most memorable, particularly as they contain such a wide range of feelings and emotions. Whilst we do not know what order the poems were written in, it is tempting to arrange them in a progression from constant love, to confusion and despair and finally hatred. Poem 87 appears to be at the beginning of the relationship between Catullus and Lesbia. The symmetry of the couplets beginning “nulla” and ending with “mea est” emphasizes the idea that no one loves Lesbia as much as Catullus. The placement of “nulla” at the beginning of the
Unlike the other characters in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Viola's feelings of love are genuine. She is not mistaken about Orsino's true nature and loves him for who he really is, while the other characters in the play seem to be in love with an illusion. Viola's love for Orsino does not alter during the play, nor is it transferred to another person.
In the Middle Ages, when The Canterbury Tales was written, society became captivated by love and the thought of courtly and debonair love was the governing part of all relationships and commanded how love should be conducted. These principles changed literature completely and created a new genre dedicated to brave, valorous knights embarking on noble quests with the intention of some reward, whether that be their life, lover, or any other want. The Canterbury Tales, written in the 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer, accurately portrays and depicts this type of genre. Containing a collection of stories within the main novel, only one of those stories, entitled “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, truly outlines the 14th century community beliefs on courtly love.
Romeo and Juliet is a romantic love story about a young lad named Romeo who has fallen in love with Lady Juliet, but is unable to marry her because of a long-lasting family feud. The play ends in the death of both these characters and the reunion of the friendship between the families. Romeo is in love with Juliet, and this is a true, passionate love (unlike the love Paris has for her or the love Romeo had for Rosaline) that nothing can overcome, not even the hatred between their two families that is the reason for the death of their two children. Throughout the play, Shakespeare thoroughly explores the themes of both true love and false love and hatred. Without either of these themes, the play would loose its romantic touch and probably would not be as famous as it is today.
the play is not solely about love but also a lot of hatred is involved
In Chaucer’s tale, Cressida is in Troy with her father, a Trojan soothsayer who switched sides when he had a vision of Troy losing. Troilus is a Trojan prince who doesn’t believe in love until he happens upon Criseyde and – surprise, surprise – falls in love. Pandarus helps the two together, only to have Cressida’s father set up an exchange with the Greeks wherein Criseyde is traded for a Trojan prisoner. Criseyde then chooses another lover, Diomedes, after she realizes how hopeless the situation is. Troilus later dies in battle, but he is happy as he ascends to the “eighth circle,” some sort of allusion to Heaven, supposedly.