The Character of Criseyde In Troilus & Criseyde

The internal psychological character of Criseyde cannot be considered apart from her external sociological character. Further, her individual psychology seems to be most clearly understood in the context of prevailing cultural constructions of what women in general either are or should be. Now this can be a problematic exercise, inasmuch as there is evidence that Chaucer's own society was a cultural construction undergoing significant change. According to Coghill, Chaucer "attributed the fashions in love current in fourteenth-century Christendom, to his Trojan lovers," while also benefiting from two facts that make Troilus and Criseyde immune to charges of immorality (Coghill xxi). The first fact is that Criseyde, as a widow, does not carry the baggage of the "mystical value" of virginity prevalent in the culture of courtly love (Coghill xxi). Now this argues that Chaucer's social and cultural stance was quite steady and highly structured, subject, indeed, to Christian values. But the second fact of benefit to Chaucer's narrative vis-a-vis transforming fourteenth-century culture is m

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se," Criseyde muses, and implies the rather unhappy reality of her own first marriage when she adds, "I have no husband now to say 'Checkmate!' / Husbands are always full of jealousy, / Or masterful, or hunting novelty" (II.108). For Criseyde, love offers no satisfaction or joy; indeed, she becomes so distracted by her debate with herself over the prospect of being loved and loving that she makes herself take a break to join in play in the company of her three nieces. But there is no real relief here, either, for Criseyde's niece Antigen sings of the "brutishness" of those who cannot appreciate the joy of love (II.123). Criseyde has to admit love's good intentions, and she is drawn increasingly toward Troilus. Now of course the conflict thickens, and very much as Criseyde has anticipated, love indeed betrays her. Fries cites the "dereliction of male protectorship" on the part of her father Calkas, who deserts Troy and essentially gives Criseyde no thought until it is time to exchange her for a Trojan prisoner, and on the part of Pandarus, who seems more interested in currying favor with Troilus by pushing the lovers together than in acknowledging Criseyde's very real fear of losing her good name through an unwise or inconvenient l
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2965
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

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