This thesis will deal with the role of fortune in Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy” in comparison with two stories of Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales", namely “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Tale of Melibee”.
“The Consolation of Philosophy” was one of the most translated works in history and therefore it must have been of great significance. It was understood as the paragon of Christianity, although few voices did see the more philosophical elements as superficial. In the 15th century Chaucer’s translation of this work was one of his most popular compositions. His point of view coincides in many aspects with Boethius as he was Christian too and Chaucer was considered a “supremely philosophical poet” as in medieval times poetry was not distinguished from philosophy.
Chaucer translated Boethius’ main work “The Consolation of Philosophy” which he wrote during his arrest in prison in 523/24. Hence it can be assumed that he knew a great deal about him and his work had a massive influence on his poetry namely the Canterbury Tales which he was writing at the time he was translating Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy”. In research the examination of the similarities between Boethius and Chaucer’s works are quite popular as they all agree that Chaucer adapted many ideas from Boethius. Stretter for example examined in detail to what extend love corresponds with fortune in “The Knight’s Tale”.
At first there will be a brief introduction to Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy”, followed by a description of the characteristics of fortune. Then I will compare in what way these characteristics are mirrored in “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Tale of Melibee”. Furthermore I will also investigate some other topics that necessarily emerge from fortune as this leads to the question what should be sought if not fortune, which results in the search for happiness and the right way to achieve it. This correlates with the control of the emotions which are the essential premise and the cause for all misdeeds. As men are deluded by their senses they are not able to think and act reasonably.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy” and the role of fortune
3. “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Consolation of Philosophy”
4. “The Tale of Melibee” and “The Consolation of Philosophy”
5. Final statement
Objectives & Themes
This thesis examines the role of fortune in Boethius' "Consolation of Philosophy" in comparison to Chaucer's "The Knight’s Tale" and "The Tale of Melibee." The primary research aim is to analyze how Chaucer adapted Boethian philosophical concepts regarding fortune, human suffering, and the exercise of free will within a medieval literary context.
- The nature of fortune and her unpredictable influence on human life.
- The intersection of passion, emotion, and the loss of reason.
- The concept of free will versus deterministic views of cosmic forces.
- The philosophical pursuit of happiness and the role of patience and virtue.
- The transformation of characters through the mastery of temptations.
Excerpt from the Book
3. “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Consolation of Philosophy”
In the following I will compare fortune’s role in “The Knight’s Tale” as well as other topics such as happiness, the control of the emotions, the free will and the role of good and evil which are all interconnected and cannot be looked at separately as they are all linked together and depend on each other as one determines the other which will become clear in the course of this thesis. “The Knight’s Tale” is one of the most often and widely interpreted stories within the Canterbury Tales and contains many philosophical allusions which derive from the Boethian source. According to Stretter Chaucer applied love as a model for fortune to show abstract problems of human suffering in a more practical and better understandable way.
The characters Boethius, Arcite and Palamon share the same destiny of being captured in prison and hence not being able to act. But for Arcite fortune seems to change for the better when he is freed, but this is only a physical liberation because he is mentally still in prison, as the following analysis will show. For Stretter Chaucer structured the tale in a way that makes Theseus representing the voice of Boethian authority and Palamon and Arcite speaking for human suffering. Hence they ask Boethian questions whereas Theseus gives Lady Philosophy’s answers. Burnley also sees Theseus as someone who “considers the trespass and the cause in the Knight’s Tale”. He is full of wisdom and chivalry (l. 865) and stands up for justice (l. 961) when he helps the widows to bury their husbands and moreover he prevents Arcite and Palamon from killing themselves (l.1706) and acts like a judge when he arranges the battle in which no one shall die (l. 2541). But despite of all these attributes he is closer to the protagonists than Prudence or Lady Philosophy as he admits to have been a servant of love too (l. 1814) and does not understand men’s active role but sees himself as a slave of fortune.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines the thesis's focus on Boethius’ influence on Chaucer, specifically regarding the role of fortune and the search for happiness.
2. Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy” and the role of fortune: Summarizes Boethius' key concepts of fortune as unpredictable, the nature of human suffering, and the necessity of using reason to achieve freedom.
3. “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Consolation of Philosophy”: Compares the philosophical themes of fortune, free will, and emotions in the Knight's Tale, arguing that the characters' failure to exercise reason leads to their tragic outcomes.
4. “The Tale of Melibee” and “The Consolation of Philosophy”: Analyzes the dialogue structure of the Tale of Melibee, highlighting how Prudence guides Melibeus toward Stoic moderation and away from vengeful emotions.
5. Final statement: Concludes that Chaucer effectively adapts Boethian thought to illustrate how humans mistakenly view themselves as enslaved by fortune rather than mastering their own emotions through reason.
Keywords
Fortune, Boethius, Chaucer, The Consolation of Philosophy, The Knight’s Tale, The Tale of Melibee, Reason, Emotions, Free will, Stoicism, Providence, Happiness, Virtue, Patience, Suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis investigates the role of fortune in Boethius’ “Consolation of Philosophy” and examines how these philosophical ideas are reflected and adapted in two of Chaucer's stories, “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Tale of Melibee.”
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work explores the nature of fortune, the conflict between reason and emotion, the importance of free will, the search for true happiness, and the ethical necessity of patience and virtue.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The primary goal is to determine how Chaucer integrated Boethian philosophy into his own work to address questions regarding human suffering and the perceived lack of control over one's destiny.
Which scientific methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a comparative literary analysis method, examining textual evidence from the original works and linking them to established scholarly research on medieval philosophical traditions.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body systematically compares the portrayal of fortune in Boethius' text with the behavior of characters in Chaucer's tales, focusing on how they handle adversity, emotions, and the concepts of justice and providence.
What key terms characterize this thesis?
The work is characterized by terms such as Fortune, Boethius, Chaucer, Stoicism, Reason, Free will, and Emotions, which form the conceptual framework for the comparative analysis.
How does the author interpret the character of Theseus in “The Knight’s Tale”?
The author views Theseus not as a perfect allegorical figure of authority, but as a complex character who shares the faults of the protagonists and ultimately struggles with his own role as a servant of fortune.
What specific advice does Prudence provide in “The Tale of Melibee”?
Prudence advises Melibeus to temper his vengeful emotions, seek internal mastery through the assistance of God, and recognize that answering evil with evil only leads to further corruption.
Why does the thesis consider the protagonists in “The Knight’s Tale” to be enslaved?
They are considered enslaved because they allow their passions and desire for revenge to override their reason, thereby failing to understand that they possess the free will to choose a path of patience and virtue.
- Quote paper
- Jacqueline Barth (Author), 2014, The role of fortune in “The Consolation of Philosophy” in comparison with “The Knight’s Tale” and “The Tale of Melibee”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339587
