How does Chaucer make use of humour in ‘Troilus and Criseyde’?

Answer

How does Chaucer make use of humour in ‘Troilus and Criseyde’? [2021] ✪✪✪

Geoffrey Chaucer’s (1340-1400) “Troilus and Criseyde” (1385) is a great love story written with soft humour and deep feeling. Chaucer mixes love and laughter in a beautiful way. His humour is never harsh. It makes the sad story more human and real. Through Troilus, Criseyde, and Pandarus, Chaucer shows wit, irony, and playful laughter even in pain and passion.

Humour in Troilus’s Pride and Fall in Love: At first, Troilus laughs at lovers in the temple of Palladion in Troy. He mocks others and says, 

“O verrey foles! nyce and blinde be ye.”

(Oh, truly foolish people! You are silly and blind in love.)

Chaucer’s gentle humour begins here. Troilus proudly thinks he can never fall in love. But soon, Cupid strikes him through Criseyde’s eyes. She is a young widow. In Troilus’s eyes, Criseyde is now,

“So aungellyk was hir natyf beautee.”

(Her natural beauty was so angel-like.)

Chaucer’s humour lies in this quick change. The proud warrior becomes a helpless lover. The poet smiles at how love makes even heroes foolish. It is the humour of irony that pride turns into passion.

Humour in Pandarus’s Talk and Tricks: Pandarus is the uncle of Criseyde. He brings comic life to the sad story. His talk is full of witty lines and clever games. When Troilus weeps, Pandarus says, 

“What womman coude love swich a wrecche?” 

(What woman could ever love such a miserable man?)

He scolds him like a friend and teases him like a brother. His playful advice brings humour into pain. Pandarus jokes, flatters, and even tricks both lovers with funny plans. He becomes the comic middleman who makes readers laugh through his lively speech and confident tone. His humour makes the love story light and human.

Humour in Criseyde’s Behaviour and Words: