Who is Lady Una? What Does She Symbolize?
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
Who is Lady Una? What does she symbolize? Or What impression of Lady Una do you have in The Faerie Queene”?
Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) is an English poet and well known for his allegorical epic poem “The Faerie Queen” (1590). Lady Una is one of the central characters in the poem. This is a fantastical romantic epic poem based on the journey of Lady Una, the heroine of the romance.
Identity of Una: Lady Una is a central character in Edmund Spenser’s epic poem “The Faerie Queene”. She is the beloved of the Redcrosse Knight and marries him. She embodies purity, truth, and virtue. She is a faithful and determined woman.
Symbol of Truth and Purity: Lady Una symbolizes the truth and purity of the Anglican church. In the epic poem, we notice that she is simply an innocent lady. She is as simple as truth. The following lines are a fine example of Una’s truth and purity.
So pure and innocent as that same lambe
She was in life and every vertuous lore
Symbol of Beauty, Wise Guide: Lady Una is considered a beautiful and wise heroine guide of the Redcrosse Knight. In the epic, When the Monster Error Entraps the Red Cross Knight, she inspires the Red Cross Knight to be confident. So, it is proved that Lady Una is a wise heroine. She is the moral and spiritual guide of the Redcrosse Knight.
Sympathetic and Generous: Lady Una has a sympathetic and generous heart. She comes to the queen’s court and requests to save her father’s kingdom and her parents. She goes to the royal place and shows her love and generosity to the queen.
Responsible Lady: Lady Una is the symbol of responsibility. Her parents become miserable by being entrapped in the cave of the Dragon. In such a horrible situation, she shows no discouragement but takes responsibility for rescuing them. With the Red Cross Night, she starts her mission as an inspiration for the Knight. She encourages him to persevere in any difficult moment. We can cite quotes,
A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside
This quote refers to Lady Una’s beauty, responsibility, and always standing by the side of the Red Cross Knight.
To conclude, Lady Una is a young, beautiful lady with rare qualities. She is the ideal of truth and pure heart.