Elements Of Chivalry In The Knights Tale - 1078 Words

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem, The Knight’s Tale, the author encapsulates chivalrous characteristics in his telling of a battle for love. In its fundamental form, chivalry idealizes a knight’s conduct, both on and off the battlefield (Gregory-Abbott). Chaucer employs this â€Å"heroic code [of] bravery, loyalty, and service to ones lord† to illustrate the idillic knight throughout the narrative (Rossignol). Chaucer’s poem, The Knight’s Tale, exhibits the ideals of chivalry in the form of two knights, desperately in love with the same woman, and a wise Duke who embodies the voice of reason. Each knight upholds honor through compassion, troths, and heroism on the battlefield, despite their afflictions with each other. A so-called perfect knight†¦show more content†¦Palamon, weak and unprepared for a duel, receives Arcita’s mercy which gives him an honest opportunity to fight for Emily’s love. Arcita’s chivalrous natur e allows him to suppress his impulse for combat and instead â€Å"[pledge] his honour to return† the next day with armor and weapons for Palamon (Chaucer 42). An honorable knight mercifully insures a fair battle against his weaker enemy, as Arcita does in regards to Palamon. Once returned with armor for Palamon, the fighting ensues amidst the feuding cousins. Before their dispute concludes in death, the wise knight, Theseus, along with his wife and Emily, the cause of the knights’ quarrel, happen upon them in the grove. Although both former prisoners, and one forever exiled from the land of Athens, Arcita and Palamon truthfully reveal their identity and the motivation behind their duel as â€Å"chivalry [requires] knights†¦to swear loyalty to their superiors† (Thierry). Arcita and Palamon, with all loyalty to the Duke, unveil their true identities, a brave act of chivalry that nearly results in the execution of the devoted knights. Theseus, moved with com passion at the plea of the two women, pardons both Arcita and Palamon, knowing that only those in love â€Å"can be called a fool† (Chaucer 46). Theseus’ amnesty emulates the â€Å"ideal chivalric knight,† one who â€Å"[is†¦] compassionate [and] just†¦to those in distress† (Thierry). InShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales, written by Chaucer, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by an1600 Words   |  7 PagesThe Canterbury Tales, written by Chaucer, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by an anonymous author, are both sophisticated fourteenth-century examples of medieval romance. Medieval romances captured the heart of their audiences as narratives and stories that featured a protagonist, often a knight, and dealt with religious allegories, chivalry, courtly love, and heroic epics. 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Modern day people see them as chivalrous figures instead of their actual role as mounte d cavalry soldiersRead More Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Idealism in the Knights Tale Essay1663 Words   |  7 PagesIdealism in the Knights Tale      Ã‚   Despite its glorified accounts of the chivalrous lives of gentlemen, the Knight ¹s Tale proves to be more than a tragically romantic saga with a happy ending. For beneath this guise lies an exploration into the trifling world of the day ¹s aristocratic class. Here, where physical substance is superseded by appearance, reality gives way to disillusioned canon and emotion is sacrificed for honor. Naà ¯ve idealism emerges as the dominant characteristic of the