The Knight's Tale Love Conquers All
Love Conquers All
In the beginning of The Knight’s Tale, Chaucer introduces a duke, Theseus of Athens. Theseus arrives home to Athens from a victorious siege. Four women interrupt the joyful demeanor of the Athenian homecoming with their loud crying and weeping. When Theseus asks them what causes their grief, the eldest woman of the group steps forward and responds. She explains to Theseus that each of the women lost their husbands to war at Thebes. Creon, the lord of Thebes, humiliated the four women when he refused to cremate or bury the bodies of such men. Angrily, Theseus and his army march directly to Thebes without any further notice. Together, they vanquish Thebes with ease. Theseus obtains the bones of the four women’s husbands so …show more content…
In his sleep, the god Mercury appears to him in a dream. Mercury convinces Arcite that the woe will only cease once he reaches Athens and obtains Emily’s presence once again. Upon the closure of his dream, Arcite “. . . picked up a large mirror then to see/The great change in his color, the degree/To which his face looked like another kind” in lines 1399-1401. Arcite returns to Athens under the name Philostrate. Within the duration of two years, Arcite works his way from a measly page in the house of Emily, up to the head squire of Theseus himself. Abruptly, Palamon escapes from prison by drugging the jailer’s drink. He seeks hiding in the woods, and coincidentally comes across Arcite. While Arcite proclaims his love for Emily and his frustration of his false identity, Palamon listens - concealed in a bush. Then Palamon reveals himself. The two declare to battle at the same location the following day. When Arcite and Palamon meet again they duel. Within an amount of time, Theseus himself comes across the two former prisoners and asks them both to identify themselves. Palamon answers almost instantly, and explains the reason for their battling. He identifies Arcite to be a former prisoner with a newly acquired counterfeit identity of the name Philostrate. Palamon identifies himself after Arcite. He claims that Arcite and himself both desire to love Emily. Palamon also exclaims they both deserve death. At first, Theseus agrees with Palamon, but because of the crying and begging of Emily and his wife, he decides to show mercy upon the two former Thebans. Lines 1850-53 depict the settlement: “But after fifty weeks right to the day, /Each of you shall bring back one hundred knights, /Armed for the lists to represent your rights, /All set to fight for her.” Such a resolution sparks a sense of hope in the hearts of both Arcite and
In the beginning of The Knight’s Tale, Chaucer introduces a duke, Theseus of Athens. Theseus arrives home to Athens from a victorious siege. Four women interrupt the joyful demeanor of the Athenian homecoming with their loud crying and weeping. When Theseus asks them what causes their grief, the eldest woman of the group steps forward and responds. She explains to Theseus that each of the women lost their husbands to war at Thebes. Creon, the lord of Thebes, humiliated the four women when he refused to cremate or bury the bodies of such men. Angrily, Theseus and his army march directly to Thebes without any further notice. Together, they vanquish Thebes with ease. Theseus obtains the bones of the four women’s husbands so …show more content…
In his sleep, the god Mercury appears to him in a dream. Mercury convinces Arcite that the woe will only cease once he reaches Athens and obtains Emily’s presence once again. Upon the closure of his dream, Arcite “. . . picked up a large mirror then to see/The great change in his color, the degree/To which his face looked like another kind” in lines 1399-1401. Arcite returns to Athens under the name Philostrate. Within the duration of two years, Arcite works his way from a measly page in the house of Emily, up to the head squire of Theseus himself. Abruptly, Palamon escapes from prison by drugging the jailer’s drink. He seeks hiding in the woods, and coincidentally comes across Arcite. While Arcite proclaims his love for Emily and his frustration of his false identity, Palamon listens - concealed in a bush. Then Palamon reveals himself. The two declare to battle at the same location the following day. When Arcite and Palamon meet again they duel. Within an amount of time, Theseus himself comes across the two former prisoners and asks them both to identify themselves. Palamon answers almost instantly, and explains the reason for their battling. He identifies Arcite to be a former prisoner with a newly acquired counterfeit identity of the name Philostrate. Palamon identifies himself after Arcite. He claims that Arcite and himself both desire to love Emily. Palamon also exclaims they both deserve death. At first, Theseus agrees with Palamon, but because of the crying and begging of Emily and his wife, he decides to show mercy upon the two former Thebans. Lines 1850-53 depict the settlement: “But after fifty weeks right to the day, /Each of you shall bring back one hundred knights, /Armed for the lists to represent your rights, /All set to fight for her.” Such a resolution sparks a sense of hope in the hearts of both Arcite and