Love's Spell In 'Troilus And Criseyde'
Tiana Connell #8659
Mr. Powers
AP Lang &Comp, Period 1
21 October 2011
Love’s Spell In the novel Troilus and Criseyde, by Geoffrey Chaucer, we witness the comparison of two human beings falling in love with each other. Troilus and Criseyde experience love in different ways; either by Cupid’s arrow or through the manipulations of relatives they are forced to pursue each other under love’s spell. Through their story, the readers learn the valuable lesson of love’s wrath. In the beginning stanzas, we learned that Troilus was a strong and admirable knight of Troy. Troilus, who once joked about those who fell in love, became a victim to love himself. Cupid shot Troilus causing him to fall in love with Criseyde, the first girl he saw. …show more content…
He confronted Criseyde and questioned her opinion of Troilus, in hopes to persuade her into a relationship with him. However, when Pandarus informed Criseyde of Troilus’s love for her, she became upset with the inappropriateness of the subject. “With that he ceased to speak, and hung his head, and she burst out in tears as she replied ‘Alas, for grief! O why am I not dead, since all good faith on earth has surely died? What would a stranger do to me; she cried, ‘When one I thought my friend, the best of them, bids me to seek a love he should condemn?”(Book II, 59). Although she was honored by Troilus’s flattering notes, Criseyde in return did not show any mutual emotions in her responding letters. “She gave him thanks for every good intention towards her, but declined to give him ground for greater hope; she never would be bound in love, save as a sister; this, to please him, she gladly would allow, if that could ease him”(Book II, 175). However, through the pressures of Pandarus, Troilus and Criseyde became lovers, until the war began, which inevitably separated them. Criseyde promised to come back to Troilus when time permitted. However, the untruthful Criseyde gave her heart and broach, given to her from Troilus, to Diomede in the midst of
Mr. Powers
AP Lang &Comp, Period 1
21 October 2011
Love’s Spell In the novel Troilus and Criseyde, by Geoffrey Chaucer, we witness the comparison of two human beings falling in love with each other. Troilus and Criseyde experience love in different ways; either by Cupid’s arrow or through the manipulations of relatives they are forced to pursue each other under love’s spell. Through their story, the readers learn the valuable lesson of love’s wrath. In the beginning stanzas, we learned that Troilus was a strong and admirable knight of Troy. Troilus, who once joked about those who fell in love, became a victim to love himself. Cupid shot Troilus causing him to fall in love with Criseyde, the first girl he saw. …show more content…
He confronted Criseyde and questioned her opinion of Troilus, in hopes to persuade her into a relationship with him. However, when Pandarus informed Criseyde of Troilus’s love for her, she became upset with the inappropriateness of the subject. “With that he ceased to speak, and hung his head, and she burst out in tears as she replied ‘Alas, for grief! O why am I not dead, since all good faith on earth has surely died? What would a stranger do to me; she cried, ‘When one I thought my friend, the best of them, bids me to seek a love he should condemn?”(Book II, 59). Although she was honored by Troilus’s flattering notes, Criseyde in return did not show any mutual emotions in her responding letters. “She gave him thanks for every good intention towards her, but declined to give him ground for greater hope; she never would be bound in love, save as a sister; this, to please him, she gladly would allow, if that could ease him”(Book II, 175). However, through the pressures of Pandarus, Troilus and Criseyde became lovers, until the war began, which inevitably separated them. Criseyde promised to come back to Troilus when time permitted. However, the untruthful Criseyde gave her heart and broach, given to her from Troilus, to Diomede in the midst of