The Knight’s Tale

A Consideration of the Chivalric

When Do We Think Military Force is Appropriate?

• Defense of borders—when attacked or invaded.• Defense of ideas which are central to

one’s being. (Political and or Religious Freedom)• Defense of the helpless.

When asked, most of my Students list the following:

All of this the Chivalric Would Accept

• Knights would certainly agree that a kingdom’s borders would need to be protected. They were sworn to support their lord.

• As Christians they were also sworn to protect the faith and in the Middle Ages the state of Christendom was in question. Muslims had conquered huge portions of the former Roman (Holy Roman) Empire—even up through Spain.

• The chivalric knight was also called upon to help the helpless—especially women.

So many moderns have no problem with the chivalric.

However, there has also occurred in our culture a strong alteration about what is recognized as the just and or unjust use of military force.This change can be illustrated by the following question:

Which is Your Favorite Superhero?

What Does Your Preference Say About Your Concepts of Chivalry

Some moderns might suggest that the first two are characterized by a confidence which borders on arrogance (similar complaints about US).

• Captain America and Superman approach their worlds (Marvel and DC) with an assurance that their understanding of what is right and what is wrong is correct.

• They approach conflict with assurance of cultural acceptance —similar to being aristocratic.

• In contrast Batman has no superpowers and Wolverine compared to many of the other X-Men relies more on his personality than power--not accepted by culture

• Neither supports an ideology but in most cases is responding to a threat.

Chivalric knights have the same problem: They do not question the core claims of the cosmology they see themselves in. They view themselves upholding the law.

Other Elements Acceptable for the Chivalric but Strange to Us

• The value of personal and national reputation, of Honor.– Good Fighter, Fearless– Manifest Destiny

• The rightness of pursuing “divine ambition.”

Moderns might be surprised

• The code of honor overrides the goal to win a battle—clemency to a victim and assistance to a foe are expected.

• Yet the chivalric also has little difficulty engaging deadly force against a neighbor because of issues of honor.

• The chivalric could participate in battle to expand national of religious strength for what Shakespeare calles “the bubble reputation.”

Concepts of Chivalric in HamletHamlet Denmark’s a Prison. . .Rosencrantz Why then, your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your mind (Act II, ii).

Much later in the play.CAPTAIN Truly to speak, and with no addition,We go to gain a little patch of groundThat hath in it no profit but the name.To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it.Nor will it yield to Norway or the PoleA ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.

Hamlet : Witness this army of such mass and chargeLed by a delicate and tender prince,Whose spirit with divine ambition puffedMakes mouths at the invisible event,Exposing what is mortal and unsureTo all that fortune, death, and danger dare,Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be greatIs not to stir without great argument,But greatly to find quarrel in a strawWhen honor’s at the stake (Act IV, iv).

Hamlet’s Responses Often Surprise Modern Students

• He does not debate with his old school friends about the reality and importance in a prince to have ambition so that the resources of a single nation might not be enough.

• And notice that while the captain laments that he and his men are going to fight and die for a piece of land which he would not pay for the privilege to farm, Hamlet admires the quality of being men of action.

First page of “The Knight’s Tale” Caxton’s Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s KnightThere was a knight, a most distinguished manWho from the day on which he first beganTo ride abroad had followed chivalry,Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy.He had done nobly in his sovereign’s warAnd ridden into battle, no man more,As well in Christian as in heathen places,And ever honored for his noble graces …He was of sovereign value in all eyes.And though so much distinguished, he was wiseAnd in his bearing modest as a maid

Taken from the Ellesmere Manuscript (1420) of the Canterbury Tales

He never yet a boorish thing had saidIn all his life to any, come what might;He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.

Speaking of his equipment, he possessedFine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.He wore a fustian tunic stained and darkWith smudges where his armour had left mark;Just home from service, he had joined our ranksTo do his pilgrimage and render thanks

What Does this Description Show Us?

• Chaucer offers an examination of the values that, in his mind at least, make up the Code of Chivalry.

• When called upon to serve his kingdom, the knight performed his duty bravely and valiantly.

• Yet regardless of his successes and renown, the knight isn’t a braggart. He doesn’t flaunt his wealth to the people he is traveling with, and instead is generous and honest.

• And, having returned from arduous foreign service, he chose not to bask in his glory, but to make a pious journey as a show of gratitude (Farrell).

Elements of The Knight’s Tale That Drive Moderns Crazy(These are only a few)

• Theseus stops his homeward wedding journey to Athens because of news of an injustice in Thebes (chivalric women in need high degree).

• Once conquered, all women seem happy to be wedded (Patriarchal world view).

• Arcite and Palamon are cousins, fellow knights of Thebes, fall to fighting (love at first sight)

More Alien Tastes typical of Romances

• Long descriptions of buildings and gatherings (this was their version of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous)

Sources • The Epic poem Teseida by Giovanni

Boccaccio (1313-1375) who got elements from several Greek myths.– Greek gods but Roman names: Jupiter (king of

the gods), Mars (god of War), Venus, (goddess of love), Diana (goddess of chastity and the hunt), and Saturn (god of time). Shakespeare would use the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta again in Midsummer Night’s Dream.

– Medieval additions Philosophy and Fortune• The Consolation of Philosophy by

Boethius (480-525).– Not overtly Christian, uses philosophical

thoughts to explain the randomness of life.

Chaucer’s gives the pagan gods attributes belonging to their astrological natures. Saturn will be the end of Arcite because of health issues of his sign.

Web Sites

“Chaucer’s `The Knight’s Tale’ in Images” Luminarium: Anthology of English Liteature.http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/knightimg.htmFarrell, Scott. “Chaucer’s Knightly Virtues” Chivalry Today. March 2003 http://chivalrytoday.com/chaucer%E2%80%99s-knightly-virtues/ web 6 May 2014

Video Sites• Animated Version—weird opening:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3zUoNG

_P_0• Right to the story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRyhTuny3w

• Actual audio text provided by Librovox• http://youtu.be/2vlcYzxqDxg:

Audio does not start at the very beginning but picks up when the widows are bringing their complains to Theseus and his party as he comes home from winning Hippolyta..