Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde Essays

Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde One of the aspects of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde that seemed most enigmatic at offset printing was the apparent ambiguity or complete lack of motivation that the writer provides for the main characters. Chaucer provides little parvenues report for why his major characters act the track that they do when he does, his explanations are often ambiguous or contradictory. Pandarus is an tenuous example of a character whose motives are ambiguous. The only motives clearly traceable to him based on the poems text seem to be the friendship and estimation he and Troilus have for each other, which is supported by the narrators claim that Pandarus ... was enthusiastic to serve his fulle frend. (Chaucer 1.1058-9) a voyeuristic instinct (which could be supported by pointing out that Pandarus seems to arrange opportunities for Troilus and Criseyde to tryst, as much as possible, in his carriage -- for instance, his presence for an unspecified length of time during the night Troilus and Criseyde spend in his guest room) and a wish to vicariously fulfill, through his friend Troilus, those romantic desires which have been thwarted throughout life. This last (and perhaps most supportable) explanation is suggested by the constant identifications that Pandarus makes with Troilus, by saying myn avys anoon may helpen us and in asking Troilus if Fortune oure joie wold han overthrowe, and by his explanation that I ... nevere felte in my servyse / A frendly cheere or lokyng of an eye. (1.620, 4.385, 4.397-8) All of these motives for Chaucers Pandarus could be supported, but none seems clearly to be more plausible than any of the others. However, for these vaguely defined motives,... ...uld be envisioned as less happy he has lost Criseyde, has been denied revenge against her new lover, and is dead. It is hard to imagine a more forceful combination of facts with piece to make a point. As if to drive it home, Ch aucers narrator then refers to Jove, Apollo, ... vitiate as swich rascaille, or rabble. Subtleties of middle English can be confusing for a new reader and first, and entente is a word with elusive variations in meaning and a variety of connotations. Properly understood, though, it adds a extensive deal to an understanding of Chaucers Troilus. References Chaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Criseyde in The Riverside Chaucer. General Ed. Benson, Larry D. Boston Houghton Mifflin, 1987. Tatlock, tooshie S.P., and Arthur G. Kennedy. A Concordance to the Complete Work of Geoffrey Chaucer. Gloucester Peter Smith, 1963.