My Love of Medieval Allegory

 

Some of my favorite literary works ever are those concerning Medieval allegory such as The Summoning of Everyman and Piers Plowman by William Langland. Additionally, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, which has always been one of my all-time favorite series, derived its novels largely from Christian themes of Medieval literature. I also greatly enjoy the allegorical themes of fleeing temptation from sin in The Quest of the Holy Grail. 

Whether it be Pope Innocent III or Geoffrey Chaucer, I enjoy Medieval allegory. I admire Pope Innocent III's vast knowledge of various passages in the scriptures. Even if I find certain texts in the scriptures to be stretched by him at times to defend the papacy, I nevertheless, find such interpretations to be interesting. Alas, I also enjoy how Chaucer made use of scripture for both theological and moral themes throughout his Canterbury Tales. 

The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature by C. S. Lewis has been one of my inspirations to studying Medieval literature over the course of these last two years. In general, Lewis's study of the literature of the Middle Ages has triggered me to be a scholar in the field of English literature. To this end, I aspire to discuss and analyze various works of the Middle Ages.  

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Second Nun's Tale

 

                                                                   

This is one of the few Canterbury Tale that has no prologue. It is about Saint Cecilia. Interestingly enough, The Second Nun's Tale was originally written by Geoffrey Chaucer as a separate work. 

                                                                  The Tale

And though men dreaded never for to die, 

Yet see men well by reason, doubtless, 

That idleness is root of sluggardly, 

Of which there cometh never good increase; 

And see that sloth them holdeth in a leas, 

Only to sleep, and for to eat and drink, 

And to devouren all that others sink. 

How true! Idleness is never a good thing (1 Timothy 5: 13, Ecclesiastes 10: 18). To contrast the work of a godly person with a lazy one, the nun goes on to describe the main character of her story: 

And, for to put us from such idleness, 

That cause is of so great confusion, 

I have here done my faithful business, 

After the Legend, in translation

Right of thy glorious life and passion, -

Thou with thy garland wrought of rose and lily, 

Thee mean I, maid and martyr, Saint Cecilie. 

The nun furthered her praised of this blessed saint even more later:

First will I you the name of Saint Cecilie

Expound, as men may in her story see. 

It is to say in English, Heaven's lily, 

For pure chasteness of virginity;

Or, for she whiteness had of honesty,

And green of conscience, and of good fame

The sweet savour, Lilie was her name. 

Cecilie was to be a married to a man named Valerian. Nevertheless, she wanted to give her body fully unblessed and pure to God alone. 

And while the organs made melody, 

To God alone thus in her heart sang she;

''Oh Lord, my soul and eke me body gie

Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be.''

And, for his love that died upon the tree, 

Every second or third day she fast,'

Aye bidding in her orisons full fast. 

When she was about to go to bed with her husband, she sent him on a brief journey. An angel soon appeared to Valerian and told him to keep his wife's virginity pure and undefiled. 

In a later conversation with her husband Cecilie shares with him that what happens in this world is not the end of all things:

''But there is better life in other place, 

That never shall be loste, dread thee nought;

Which Godde's Son us tolde through his grace

That Father's Son which alle thinges wrought;

And all that wrought is with a skilful thought, 

The Ghost, that from the Father gan proceed, 

Hath souled them, withouten any drede. 

By word and by miracle, high God's Son, 

When he was in this world, declared here. 

That there is other life where men may won. ''

Pope Urban later made Valerian a knight. Likewise, Valerian had frequent visits from his wife's holy angel throughout his life. 

Cecilie outlived her husband. All her days she served the Lord. Later in the story, she was brutally martyred for her faith. 

                                                                      My Analysis: 

The Second Nun's Tale is about sacrifice. Not only did Cecilie sacrifice her body to God, but Valerian also sacrificed his sexual desires for his wife so that she could follow God's call. Indeed, both Cecilie and Valerian are each noble and pious towards their creator. These characters understand the values of both virginity and following God's commands over earthly desires. The Second Nun's Tale also concerns the importance of sexual purity. It also reflected theological values of many in the Medieval church that strongly supported the importance of celibate orders serving the church with all that they had. Ultimately, Cecilie wanted to serve God with her all. Even if it was convenient for her, she felt the call of God towards such a life. Marriage to a man had never been her choice though she loved her husband with a Christlike love while living in a celibate manner to the calling that she felt from her Creator. 

Over the years, I think that some Christians have went to two extremes on the issue of celibacy and marriage. Saint Jerome, for instance, went to an extreme of undervaluing marriage to promoting all being celibate. On the other hand, though, I disagree with some of the reformers during the reformation era that wished to abolish all monasteries and disregard celibacy. I stand in agreement with Saint Augustine much on this, who I believe had the best-balanced view. Augustine believed that celibacy was a higher calling than marriage, though he also supported the great importance and sanctity of the marriage institution. 

I am not certain of Chaucer's views concerning marriage. From the derived text of The Second Nun's Tall I believe that it can be inferred that he likely had a high view of celibacy. 

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Physician's Tale

 

Also known as The Doctor's Tale, The Physician's Tale is unusual among The Canterbury Tales in that it has no prologue. The text goes straight into the story. 

I like the last words of The Physician's Tale: 

TherforebI rede yow this counseil take, 

Forsaketh sinne, er sinne, yow forsake. 

The Doctor's Tale is about Virginius, a knight, having been falsely accused of kidnapping a girl. The knight never has the chance to prove his innocence. Furthermore, his daughter was executed because of evil men wishing her dishonor. The judge then planned on killing Virginius before he himself was turned on by the same evil men. 

                                                                   My Analysis: 

The Physician's Tale is about how those who practice evil will in the end be judged for their actions. While we may not always see how others that have done us wrong are punished for what they have done to us, their sin will come back to haunt them. Likewise, our own sins come back to haunt us, and we pay heavy consequences for our wrong choices. This has one of my favorite messages of The Canterbury Tales. A shorter tale, while The Physician's Tale may be for good reason seen as inferior to other Canterbury Tales, its message is nonetheless important still. 

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Squire's Tale

                                                                    

                                                                         The Prologue: 

The prologue starts both short and odd. Someone suggests that the squire knows some about love. However, it is unclear who speaks the following lines: 

''Squire, Com Neer, If it your wille be, 

And sey somwhat of love; for, certes, ye

Connen ther-on as muche as any man.''

                                                                   

                                                                              Part One: 

In the land of Tartary* there was a king that raged war on Russia. The king that the squire has been telling a tale concerning was revealed to be Genghis Khan. 

This noble king, this Tartre Cambinskan...

One day, a knight came for a visit to Genghis Khan and the Mongols. The Mongols were much impressed by the manners of this knight and the fine steed that he rode. Genghis came to have a close friendship with this knight and the two shared a love towards the knight's steed, which garnered much attention at its tricks. The Mongols went on with their feasts and jolly pleasure until came Spring. 

                                                                               Part Two: 

The second part is a love story of a female falcon's whose heart has been broken. After telling this story, the squire had intended to tell more stories. One of the best lines from this piece of The Canterbury Tales is listed below: 

''A trew wighte and a theef thenken nat oon.'' 

Indeed, as scripture says, ''Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled (King James Version of the Holy Bible).''

*According to the notes of the Barnes and Noble edition of The Canterbury Tales, this referred in a general sense to the Mongol Empire. 

                                                                     My Analysis: 

The Squire's Tale I found to be interesting and different from many of the other Canterbury Tales. Nevertheless, I personally felt that the story was significantly inferior to The Knight's Tale. Considering his close relation to the knight, I would have expected to enjoy this one better. Last, I usually do not prefer stories set in far eastern Asia. For these reasons, I would consider The Squire's Tale to be more of an average Canterbury Tale.

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Manciple's Tale

                                                                  

                                                                    The Prologue: 

The pilgrims continued on the road to Canterbury as they tease each other along the way. The Maniple humorously says that the cook's breath stinks. 

And wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure stinketh...

Despite the cook and manciple going at each other at first, the cook is given wine, and this makes him happy. The host then speaks of his gratefulness to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. Shortly thereafter, the manciple tells his story. 

                                                                            The Tale:

Phoebus, a bachelor that was much lusted after, had also recently slayed a great serpent. This is drawn from Ovid's The Metamorphoses. 

Phoebus had a caged bird that he often listened to sing to him. One day, he learned from this animal that that his wife was committing adultery on him. In response, Phoebus cast the bird from his sight. 

And to the crowe, ''O false theef!'' seyde he, 

''I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale!''

The manciple goes on to tell us to be careful of our tongue. He also warns us of how a tongue can destroy relationships. 

                                                                     

                                                                      My Analysis: 

This story was a very short one. I am not sure of the intent that Chaucer had here except that we should be careful with what we say. However, the bird told the truth, so I am not sure if what he said was necessarily wrong as I think that Phoebus needed to know it. 

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Man of Law's Tale

 

                                                                The Introduction

There was a dialogue between the host and the man of law concerning past mythological stories. The man of law made several references to Ovid's The Metamorphoses.  After mentioning several Greek stories, he goes on to the prologue. 

And with that word he, with a sobre chere, 

Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here. 

                                                                   The Prologue: 

O hateful harm! condicion of poverte! 

The above lines are the opening words of the prologue. The man of law goes on to describe the hard conditions of poor. Additionally, he reprimands the rich to be grateful for what they have. 

                                                                     Part One:  

There were once in Syria successful group of merchants that were sought after by all for the goods that they frequently traded. After this description of the group by the man of law, the text tells of these merchants having been soon summoned to Rome. 

The emperor of Rome's daughter, Constance, is described in the text as one that the storyteller wishes was the monarch over Europe. Likewise, all the merchants were glad of her presence. 

When they had returned home, the merchants told of the beauty of Princess Constance to the sultan of Syrian. In return to their description of her to him, the sultan felt he needed Constance lest he die. In fact, the sultan was willing to convert to Christianity just to have her. Later, he had his land Christianized for this goal. 

Despite not wishing to marry the sultan of Syria, Constance was sent out by her people to his land to marry him. Constance grieved about her departure from her homeland. 

At the same time of Constance's travel, the sultan's mother was threatened by her son's conversion from Islam to Christianity. She plotted to stop his reform of the kingdom as she faked her own conversion. 

                                                                      Part Two:

 Christians arrived in Syria as the news of their arrival spread to both the sultan and to his mother. The Syrians and Romans both met. Additionally, the sultan's mother gladly received Constance to be her daughter in law. 

The happiness of this potential alliance soon wore off, however. The sultaness, the great wicked woman that she was, had her son and all the Christians murdered in a stable. Constance though, was not murdered. Nevertheless, the sultaness had her sent back on a boat from Syria to Italy again. Constance felt desperate for God's aid. 

She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys

Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she, 

''O clere, o welful auter, holy auter, holy croys,

Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,

That wesh the world fro the old iniquitee, 

Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe, 

That day that I shall drenchen in the depe...''

Constance was at sea for years. Finally, she found her way to the British Isles. A Constable and his wife took care of her there. Soon, out of Constance's influence, the constable converted to Christianity. 

Meanwhile, Satan hated the pure Christian character that Constance was. He aroused a knight after her that tried to persuade Constance to sin. She, however, refused the knight's pursuit of her. In return, the knight decided that he would kill her. He went on to kill the constable's wife and falsely accuse Constance of committing this terrible dead. Thankfully, however, his crime was found out and he was sentenced to death for it as many came to see Constance's innocence. 

Now, a similar occurrence happened to Constance as her experience in Syria. The king in Britain wished to marry her though his mother wished otherwise to his desires concerning this. Nevertheless, the king married her, and she became impregnated by him as he was gone to Scotland for war. 

Eventually, Constance gave birth to a boy named Maurice. After Maurice was infant baptized, word of the newly born child spread all the ways to the king. Sadly, the constable became persuaded against the queen and her son and had them sent out from his kingdom. 

Once again, as Constance set out, she had to trust God through all their sufferings. 

                                                                              

                                                                            Part Three:

The king was grieved once he learned that his wife and son had been sent away. He knew that his wife's departure from his kingdom was from the hands of his wicked mother. 

Meanwhile, Constance's boat took her to a heathen land. Her journey continued to lead her across sea and land. 

Alas, during all of these events, the emperor of Rome had many of the Syrians killed for their violence on his people. On their way back home, the Romans found Constance at sea and took her with them. 

After being in Rome, providence brought the reunion of Constance and the king from Britain. After much mourning, they felt rest. 

After these events, Maurice went on to be crowned as emperor of Rome by the pope. Alla, Constance's husband, reigned with her in England for the remaining days of their life, which were no doubt happy ones. 

                                                                        My Analysis: 

Perhaps one of the more serious of The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law's Tale is about a character that trusted in God no matter what during her situations. It would have been much easier for Constance to have dropped her faith in God during her trials. Instead, though, Constance was faithful to God until the end of her days. 

                                                    

A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Monk's Tale

 

                                                                       The Prologue: 

After hearing The Tale of Meliboeus, the host says that he wishes that his wife had heard it as well since he claims her to be a woman of impatience. He then encourages the monk to tell a new tale. 

''My lord the Monk,'' quoth he, ''be merry of cheer, 

For ye shall tell a tale truely.''

The monk agreed to tell two or three tales. Unfortunately, as Chaucer was never able to finish The Canterbury Tales, only one was ever written. 

                                                                       

                                                                         The Tale: 

The monk spoke of how great some can fall from prosperity. He exhorted all not to trust in riches and reminds them that it can be taken from them: 

''I will bewail, in manner of tragedy, 

The harm of them that stood in high degree, 

And felle so, that there was no remedy, 

To bring them out of their adversity. 

For, certain, when that Fortune list to flee, 

There may trust in blind prosperity; 

Beware by these examples true and old. 

The monk went on to describe the fall of Lucifer from glory. He then went to describe how Adam lost the beauty of Paradise due to sin. He then went on in more detail to describe the fall of Sampson as well. Likewise, the monk then went on to tell the story of Hercules downfall. He then went on to describe the fall of Nebuchadnezzar. The monk does not end here, however. Indeed, he goes on to recount similar stories of mighty characters that fell from glory. 

                                                                            My Analysis: 

The Monk's tale is not really a tale. No, indeed, it is a long discourse over how pride and power can bring those in high estates far beneath us all. All in all, a good message!