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Help with the Faerie Queene
Romantic Undead
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey guys,
Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in the Writer's Block, but I'm looking for some extra help re: Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
I know that there's a rule which says I can't ask for people to do my homework for me, and that's not what I'm asking, I'm just a little stumped and was wondering if there are any other English Lit students/experts who might be able to help.
I'm doing a study on the character of Arthur (as in, King Arthur of English lore) and what he represents in the allegorical narrative of the story. Specfically, I'm asked to compare and contrast his roles in books 1 and 3.
Anaylyzing his role in book 1 is fairly easy. He's the personification of Magnificence and therefore the "perfect" knight. His diamond shield of faith makes him invincible and his conquering of Duessa mounted on the seven headed beast is a direct allegory to the Book of Revelations, painting Arthur as a Christ figure.
The probem I have is in book III. Here Arthur is seen chasing Florimell, who represents beauty, who he mistakes for the Faerie Queene. What is to be made of this? At first glance, it would seem that Arthur is making a mistake. He is mistaking physical beauty for female perfection, which, to me, would denote a shallow flaw in Arthur's character when there should be none. It could be sais perhaps that the Queen's virtues combine to represent the epitome of chaste beauty which is equal to that of Florimell, but I don't find that argument very convincing.
Basically, I feel that the representation of Arthur in book III puts a dent in my thesis, and thus, I was wondering if any other literary-minded PAers had any additional insight to offer.
Thanks in advance!
Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in the Writer's Block, but I'm looking for some extra help re: Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
I know that there's a rule which says I can't ask for people to do my homework for me, and that's not what I'm asking, I'm just a little stumped and was wondering if there are any other English Lit students/experts who might be able to help.
I'm doing a study on the character of Arthur (as in, King Arthur of English lore) and what he represents in the allegorical narrative of the story. Specfically, I'm asked to compare and contrast his roles in books 1 and 3.
Anaylyzing his role in book 1 is fairly easy. He's the personification of Magnificence and therefore the "perfect" knight. His diamond shield of faith makes him invincible and his conquering of Duessa mounted on the seven headed beast is a direct allegory to the Book of Revelations, painting Arthur as a Christ figure.
The probem I have is in book III. Here Arthur is seen chasing Florimell, who represents beauty, who he mistakes for the Faerie Queene. What is to be made of this? At first glance, it would seem that Arthur is making a mistake. He is mistaking physical beauty for female perfection, which, to me, would denote a shallow flaw in Arthur's character when there should be none. It could be sais perhaps that the Queen's virtues combine to represent the epitome of chaste beauty which is equal to that of Florimell, but I don't find that argument very convincing.
Basically, I feel that the representation of Arthur in book III puts a dent in my thesis, and thus, I was wondering if any other literary-minded PAers had any additional insight to offer.
Thanks in advance!
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...but as far as obvious mistakes go, don't apply anachronistic modern interpretations to things written centuries ago. Physical beauty was, if not exclusively, one of the most important characteristics of femininity back in the day. Particularly in literature. A more likely interpretation would be that Arthur is beguiled by feminine wiles (ie beauty) and is temporarily incapable of exercising sound judgement. Perhaps he realises later on that physical beauty is not the only feminine virtue.
Well see, this is what I believe, the problem is that that statement contradicts my thesis that Arthur is the allegorical representation of the Ideal, or Magnificent. He is the Anglican church, the Truth of God which all other must aspire to. For someone representing the Ideal to mistake "mere" beauty for the love of his life, Glorianna, seems like a character flaw to me, which, in my interpretation, does away with the notion of him being Ideal at all.
In other words: if all female characters in the story, as well as all male characters, are meant to represent single virtues, while Arthur and the Queene represent them all, how can Arthur mistake Florimell for his Queene, whe she is but a portion of what makes the Queene perfect?
For more context: Florimell is continuously chased by and assaulted by lusty men, but she never gives up her chastity. Her life is one of constant fleeing and suffering, denoting that her Beauty is more of a curse and a challenge to her goodness than it is a desireable thing. This seems to portray the Muslum-like aspect of a woman, in that beauty should be something repressed, lest it bring on the unwanted attention of the lusty.
In which case, contend that to the best of your ability. If you do it well, you might get points for constructing a good argument. Just don't expect to score well on insight into the text / period / author.
By the way, I'm talking at university level here. If you are high school, then don't even expect to get credit for making a good argument if it's outside the status quo of 'allowed' answers. Sucks, but that's the way it goes, so I understand
No no, this is indeed a university paper, which is why I'm stressing out over this.
I understand what you're saying about Beauty being held to a higher standard than we might hold it today, and that's fine, but that doesn't change the fact that Forimell represents only an aspect of the Queene and not the whole. Arthur chasing after Beauty alone (and temporarily losing sight of his true goal, the Queene) would seem to indicate, in the allegorical sense, that even the Anglican church (and, by extension, the followers of Christ) can be duped by beauty, even if they have the best intentions (saving beauty from violation).
That's a significantly different position to what you originally said, and a much better way of putting it, no longer reeks of reterospectively applying modern standards. Just be able to back it up, particularly extending it to include the Church.
Aside from that, it's best to go with your instincts; you clearly have a point of view which you can debate, go with it but be conservative and only use what you can provide evidence for.
A final point to consider, and sorry to keep picking on the same bit, but...
Number of flawless protagonists in the history of western literature: 0
Can't actually back that up with having read the whole of western literature, but I bet I'm right, or close enough to make the point.
Normally, I'd agree with you, but the whole point of Spenser's allegory is to basically suck up to the Queen Elizabeth. Why the, when he is trying to espouse the virtues of the Anglican Church, would he portray it's allegorical representative as less-than-perfect? Is this a subtle cautionary note that he's trying to express? I'm just afraid of arguing myself into a hole