Does anyone in "The Knight's Tale" behave consistently with gentillesse or chivalry? Or do their imperfections outweigh their successes?
I think people may find it easiest to see the flaws in Palamon and Arcite. In his blog, “Lions, Tigers, and Prayers” (http://hood-college-chaucerians.blogspot.com/2013/09/lions-tigers-and-prayers.html), Andrew does a great job of summing up the characters of Palamon and Arcite. What may be harder to find is the examples of gentillesse and chivalry. Up until they sight Emelye they seem to be doing well with both of the above ideals of behavior. Then it flies apart. But bits of the ideals remain. As Amtower and Vanhoutte point out, Arcite parallels Gareth in “The Tale of Gareth” in Malory’s Morte Darthur—young men who appear in court, act nobly (or with gentillesse) although denying noble blood, thus rising up through the court. But only Gareth gets the girl (Amtower and Vanhoutte, 260-261). It’s more of a reach’ but Palamon does try to keep his promise (to be a good prisoner), just as Gawain tries to keep his promise. Both of them fall short towards the end. But, like many of today’s melodramas, impending death cures everything.
Theseus definitely has the type of gentillesse signified by
birthrank and manners. In fact, he shows many of the qualities of chivalry and
gentillesse that I listed in my last blog. So what’s missing? Theseus’ refusal to take ransoms for Palamon
and Arcite is supposed to show that he isn’t motivated by greed. However, to
me, it also fails both chivalry and gentillesse. These two souls were the only
living men in a pile of bodies; both youths, cousins and noble. One could argue
that they were protected by god(s) and therefore deserved to be treated with
care. If they had been allowed ransom, they might have even been able to go
home to raise the money. At the least, I believe (although I can’t find the
cite) that at least some noble prisoners were allowed freedom within the
castle, just not freedom to leave. Being kept in a room seems needlessly cruel.
I think, on the chivalry side, Theseus fails to show Faith, Charity, Justice or
Temperance in his treatment of the youths (Duke of Burgundy’s Code of Chivalry). According to Andrew’s
translation of Gawain’s shield, two of the qualities of the Fifth Five are
mercy and pity, which Theseus lacked as well. To me, Theseus failed the test.
WORKS CITED:
Amtower, Laurel, and Jacqueline Vanhoutte. "’Trouthe
and Honour, Freedom and Curteisie’: War, Pageantry, and the Knighthood." A
Companion to Chaucer and His Contemporaries: Texts & Contexts.
Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview, 2009. 256-302. Print.
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