Dealing with female characters created by Geoffrey Chaucer one will certainly come across Criseyde, his heroine in Troilus and Criseyde. She was a much misunderstood heroine in the Middle Ages, her name a byword for female treachery and falseness. Criseyde, being in the unfavourable position as a wealthy woman, abandoned by her treacherous father, still has a rather ‘assured manner’ at the temple when Troilus first sees her. This Trojan heroine is definitely a character who can be interpreted in many different ways and it also carries a complex body of criticism. This work is not going to concentrate on Criseyde’s character in detail but on her role as a romance heroine. Thus, in this seminar paper, I want to consider whether Criseyde fulfils the typical criteria of a romance heroine or not.
To be able to discuss this issue, I am firstly going to provide a short definition of the attributes usually associated with a romance heroine. Secondly, I am going to analyze the presentation of Criseyde in Troilus and Criseyde, both in the physical and the psychological way. The main focus will be on her beauty and her virtue, with an intention to examine to what extent she acts according to the heroine’s rules.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Criseyde – A Romance Heroine?
2.1 Characteristics in General
2.2 Analysis of Criseyde
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores whether the character of Criseyde in Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Troilus and Criseyde" adheres to the conventional standards and behavioral expectations of a traditional romance heroine. It investigates her physical and psychological representation to determine if she fulfills these established literary criteria.
- Definitions and attributes of a traditional romance heroine.
- Chaucer's physical and psychological presentation of Criseyde.
- The impact of feminine fear and the quest for protection on her actions.
- The conflict between personal virtue and external circumstances.
- The evaluation of Criseyde as a failed or complex female character within the genre.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Analysis of Criseyde
Now as it has been made explicit how a heroin woman is to be displayed, it is first of all of interest in which way Chaucer presents Criseyde to the readers in the first book of Troilus and Criseyde:
Now hadde Calkas left, in this meschaunce, Al unwist of this false and wikked dede, His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce, 95 For of hir lyf she was ful sore in drede, As she that niste what was best to rede; For bothe a widowe was she, and allone Of any freend to whom she dorste hir mone.
Criseyde was this lady name a-right; 100 As to my dome, in al Troyes citee Nas noon so fair, for passing every wight So aungellyk was hir natyf beautee, That lyk a thing immortal semed she, As doth an hevenish parfit creature, 105 That doun were sent in scorning of nature. (G.Chaucer, 1.92-105)
He introduces her in ambiguous and contradictory terms: first as an abandoned daughter and distraught widow, which is said in the first stanza above, then as a beautiful angel, which seems to be sent from heaven. However, Criseyde’s position quickly diminishes as she seeks protection through Hector - she is then neither subhuman nor superhuman, but simply an ordinary woman.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces Criseyde as a misunderstood character and outlines the paper's intent to analyze her role against the criteria of a romance heroine.
2. Criseyde – A Romance Heroine?: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework for what constitutes a romance heroine, focusing on beauty, virtue, and social behavior.
2.1 Characteristics in General: This section defines the foundational traits of a romance heroine, such as noble associations and specific physical attributes like blond hair and a pale complexion.
2.2 Analysis of Criseyde: This section examines Chaucer's depiction of Criseyde, her internal struggles with fear, and how she navigates her identity in the face of shifting allegiances.
3. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the arguments to conclude that while Criseyde possesses the traits of a romance heroine, her instability and eventual actions suggest a more complex, perhaps failed, character archetype.
4. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and secondary literature utilized for this analysis.
Keywords
Geoffrey Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde, Criseyde, Romance Heroine, Medieval Literature, Feminine Virtue, Narrative Analysis, Cultural Expectations, Fear, Treachery, Troilus, Diomede, Gender Status, Character Portrait, Literary Criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the character of Criseyde in Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Troilus and Criseyde" to determine if she functions as a standard romance heroine.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The themes include the definition of a romance heroine, the representation of women in medieval poetry, gender dynamics, and the psychological motivations behind Criseyde's behavior.
What is the central research question?
The research asks to what extent Criseyde fulfills the typical criteria established for a romance heroine in medieval literature.
Which methodology is employed?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, referencing dictionary definitions, secondary scholarly criticism, and textual evidence from the poem.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body analyzes Criseyde’s physical description, her adherence to widowhood, her fear-driven choices, and the specific pressures exerted upon her by male characters and historical circumstances.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Chaucer, romance heroine, Criseyde, virtue, gender, fear, and medieval literary tropes.
How does the author define the "heroine's rules"?
The author refers to traditional expectations of beauty, virtue, humility, and the status of being an "undesiring object of male desire."
What role does the emotion of fear play in Criseyde's characterization?
Fear is identified as her ruling passion, which forces her to constantly seek protection from others, ultimately leading to her perceived betrayal of Troilus.
Why does the author conclude that Criseyde is a "failed" character?
The conclusion suggests she is not a master of her own destiny but rather an object manipulated by the male characters and societal expectations surrounding her.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2008, About Geoffrey Chaucer's "Troilus und Criseyde", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/128325
