“The Faerie Queene” as an Allegory
The Faerie Queene is a notable literary work by Edmund Spenser. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Faerie Queene.
Answer
Show how different allegories are blended in “The Faerie Queene” Book-I.
Or, Discuss “The Faerie Queene” as an allegory.
“The Faerie Queene” (Books I-III were first published in 1590), written by Edmund Spenser (1552/53-1599), is a tremendous work of English literature. This epic poem serves as a rich tapestry of allegorical content. Book 1, often titled “The Legend of the Knight of the Red Crosse, or Holiness,” is well-known for its allegorical depth.
Allegory: An allegory is a narrative writing that gives an abstract or important message. In an allegory, characters and events in the story have symbolic meanings. “The Faerie Queene” narrates the adventures of the Redcrosse Knight. He represents the virtue of holiness. Different allegories are blended in their journey. They symbolize human life, religious faith, and the struggle between good and evil.
Allegory in Characters: All the characters in The Faerie Queene have allegorical significance since they represent abstract ideas.
The Faerie Queene: The title character, Faerie Queene Gloriana, is meant to represent Queen Elizabeth 1. The Queen appoints the Redcrosse Knight to assist Lady Una in saving her parents from the grasp of a Dragon. The Redcrosse Knight is the embodiment of virtue, holiness, and bravery. Lady Una stands for truth, faith, goodness, and wisdom. The narrator describes Lady Una’s purity in the following manner.
So pure an innocent, as that same lambe,
She was in life and every vertuous lore,
Lady Una is also the representation of the Protestant Church. Her purity and faithfulness guide the Redcrosse Knight. This symbolizes how truth and faith are essential for achieving holiness. Una’s parents symbolize humanity held by Evil. Evil represents the foul Dragon.
Encounter with Monster Error: The Monster Error is a monstrous creature that the Red Cross Knight encounters in a dark cave. It is depicted as a terrifying creature with a woman’s face and the body of a serpent.
Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide,
But th’other halfe did womans shape retaine,
Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine.
The fight between the Knight and the monster is the most fierce one in Book I. At one point in the course of his fighting, the Knight finds himself in the tight grip of the monster’s huge tail. At this time Lady Una shouts to the Knight to show his bravery. She urges him to have faith in himself and Jesus Christ and to fight bravely. The fight between the Red Cross Knight and the monster Error is the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism. The books and papers vomited by Error indicate the abusive pamphlets directed against Queen Elizabeth by the Roman Catholics. Thus, in the mission of Red Cross Knight and Una, we have seen that so long as Truth and Holiness or true religion are united, Error cannot stand against holiness.
Religious Allegory: At the heart of the poem lies a profound religious allegory. The Redcrosse Knight represents the individual Christian who embarks on a journey toward spiritual enlightenment. He is the symbol of religious holiness. His armor has the holy “red cross” inscribed on it.
But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,
The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,
The dragon he ultimately battles is a representation of Satan or sin. It emphasizes the struggle between good and evil. Archimago is a sorcerer. He attempts to lead the Redcrosse Knight astray through illusions and falsehoods. Archimago represents hypocrisy and deceit. He symbolizes the deceptive nature of false religion and the obstacles it places in the path of true faith. A beautiful but deceptive witch, Duessa symbolizes falsehood and the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. Spenser critiques the Roman Catholic Church in his epic poem.
Moral Allegory: Book 1 also explores broader moral and ethical themes beyond religious symbolism. The Redcrosse Knight’s journey is not just a spiritual quest but also a moral one. He faces temptations, makes mistakes, and learns valuable lessons. The Knight’s journey allegorically reflects our moral journey through life.
Political Allegory: Spenser’s work also contains political or nationalistic elements. He celebrates Elizabethan England and its Protestant ethos. The Redcrosse Knight can be seen as a representation of the ideal Englishman. With her pure and unwavering faith, Una can be seen as an allegory for the English Church. The challenges the Redcrosse Knight and Lady Una face together reflect the political and religious turbulence of the time.
In conclusion, “The Faerie Queene” is a masterful allegory that intertwines religious, moral, and political themes. The journey of the Redcrosse Knight and Lady Una focuses on human life, religious faith, and the struggle between good and evil.