Hood College Chaucerians

What I immediately enjoyed about part three was Theseus's construction of what in my mind appears as a football stadium. Immediately surrounding the arena are the temples to Venus, Mars, and Diana who represent love/sex, war, and chastity (although I more think of woman power). This is just interesting given that love and war are controlling the situation, and Emelye just wants to live her life and be a virgin. I think it's also interesting that they each pray to different temples, with Arcite praying to the god of war. Clearly it works out for him, but I think this shows what was more important to him in this scene.

After what seems like a lifetime of dialogue and plot development between Arcite and Palamon, I am so happy to have finally heard Emelye's voice in Part 3. Up until this point, the whole debate over Emelye has been between two males who she knows nothing about. Her monologue to Diana was finally the first time we, as readers, hear what Emelye wants and her thoughts on this tug of war for her heart. She has no designs of becoming a wife or bearing children. She's content to serve her goddess, be one with nature (which is exactly what we saw her doing in Part 1) and just live out her days holding onto her virginity. It's not a lot to ask for. I already liked Emelye, and felt sorry for her in the previous Parts, but I really respected her when she beseeches Diana to give her to a man who desires her most. I think, considering the circumstances and her fate regardless of winner, her mind was in the right place in asking for a man who truly wants her as a woman, rather than a m...

Allas, why pleinen folk so in comune On purveiaunce of God or on Fortune, That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gise Wel bettre than they kan hemself devise? Lines 1251-1254

"Yow loveris axe I now this questioun: Who hath the worse, Arctie or Palamoun? That oon may seen his lady day by day, But in prisoun moot he dwelle alway; That oother wher him list may ride or go, But seen his lady seal he neveremo." Lines: 1347-1352 Pp.52 Tristan and Isolde fanpop.com

Cousin, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a vein imaginacioun. This prisoun caused me nat for to crye, But I was hurt right now, thurghout min eye Into min herte, that wol my bane be. ("The Knight's Tale," 1093-1097) Giphy.com