Comment On the Character and Role of Archimago

Answer

 Comment on the character and role of Archimago. 

In Edmund Spenser’s (1552/53-1599) “The Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto 1” (1590), Archimago is an important character. Archimago is a magician, but he pretends to be a holy religious man. His name comes from two words: “archi” (meaning chief or highest) and “magos” (meaning magician or wizard). So, he is a powerful sorcerer. In the poem, he represents hypocrisy, especially in religion. He looks like a good man on the outside, but he is full of evil inside. His main role is to trick the Red Cross Knight and make him fall from his path of holiness.

Archimago’s First Appearance: We first see Archimago in Stanza 29 of Book I, Canto I. He appears suddenly in the forest where Red Cross Knight and Lady Una are traveling. He looks like an old hermit, someone holy and peaceful. He wears long black clothes, has a long white beard, carries a book of prayers, and walks with eyes looking down. He looks very gentle and kind. He pretends to pray and repent all the time.

“And all the way he prayed, as he went,

And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent.”

This appearance makes the Knight and Una trust him. But this is a false identity. He is not holy at all. He is a sorcerer who plans to deceive them.

Invitation to His Hermitage: Archimago offers them a place to stay in his little house, called a hermitage. This is inside a quiet forest. The place looks very peaceful, holy, and safe.

“A little lowly Hermitage it was”

But this house is actually full of magical tools and evil books. It shows how appearances can be very misleading.

The Magic Spell and Evil Plan: That night, while the Knight and Una are sleeping, Archimago begins his evil plan. He opens his magic books. He