Chaucers Use of Courtly Love Essay -- essays papers

Chaucers Use of urbane LoveChaucers Use of Courtly LoveChaucer admired and made put on of the medieval cultured know philander tradition, although he did not amply buy into it. The courtly cacoethes label is based on the graceful sex as the center of attention. The medieval knight suffers greatly for his have it away, who is often psyche elses wife. He will do anything to protect and honor her, remaining skinny at all costs. Adultery and secrecy characterize these relationships. The knight views a woman and experiences true love. The knight fears that he will never be accepted by his love therefore, she is worshiped at a distance. Elements of courtly love can be seen in both The hand of the Duchess and The Knights Tale. In The Book of the Duchess the dismal Knight represents the courtly love character, who falls hopelessly in love with Lady clear. Following the courtly love tradition, Lady White becomes the most important thing in the Black Knights life. He describ es her as the one true love that struck his eye with utter beauty.Among these ladies fair and silklike,Truly one there struck my sight,Unlike the others, I declare,Because for indisputable I can swearThat, as the sun of summer brightIs fairer, clearer, has more lightThan any other planet in heaven, more(prenominal) than the Moon, or the starry seven,Just so for all the world did she overstep those others utterlyIn beauty, courtesy and grace,In radiant modesty of face, ok bearing, virtue every way-What more, thus briefly, can I say? (lines 816-830)The courtly love tradition brings a powerful romance to The Book of the Duchess. The Black Knight has found his true love however, she has died. Her death is his deepes... ...urns disguised so that he can remain in contact with Emelye. Arcite has suffered and has expressed wo for his suffering. Allas, the wo allas, the peynes stronge,That I for yow have suffered, and so longe (lines 1913,14).This too is untypical of the courtly love romance. The self-centered passion of Palamon and Arcite distracts the reader from any true feelings of love. The knights view love in a barbaric way. Chaucer strays from the courtly love pattern to display the reader how selfish love and lovers can be. The courtly love romance tradition was widely used by Chaucer. However, Chaucer did not fully hatch this code. In The Book of the Duchess and The Knights Tale, Chaucer uses aspect of the courtly ideal. His absence of certain characteristics and elements of the code leaves the reader thinking, and interpreting on his/her own.