Who is the Monster Error?

Answer

Who is the Monster Error? What is the allegorical significance of the fight between Monster Error and the Red Cross Knight? 

In Edmund Spenser’s (1552/53-1599) ‘The Faerie Queene,’ the Monster Error is a hideous creature that the Red Cross Knight confronts in the first book of the epic. This encounter is steeped in allegorical meaning and highlights various moral, spiritual, and political conflict dimensions.

Monster Error: The Monster Error is depicted as a terrifying and awful creature with a woman’s face and the body of a serpent. This hybrid form makes her alluring and deadly, reflecting the dual nature of sin and falsehood.

Fight Between Them: The fight between the Knight and the monster proved fierce. At one point in his fight, the monster’s huge tail gripped the Knight. At this time Lady Una shouted to the Knight to show his bravery. She urged him to believe in himself and Jesus Christ and fight bravely. Inspired by the lady’s words, the Knight fought with redoubled vigor and courage. He was able to release himself from the grip of the monster’s tail. He then pressed the monster’s throat with such force that she threw out a lot of filth from her mouth. Black poison and big lumps of flesh and raw meat came out from her belly.

The monster had many young ones, all of whom had taken shelter inside her mouth when the Knight entered the cave. These little dragons also now emerged from the monster’s mouth. Ultimately, the Knight succeeded in cutting off the monster’s head and killing her. Her offspring now began to drink the blood which was flowing from her large wound. They drank so much blood that their bodies swelled with it, and their bellies burst open with the consequence that they all died. This was the first adventure of the Red Cross Knight, and Lady Una congratulated him on his victory.

Allegorical Significance: As the Knight receives an order from Queen Gloriana, he starts his journey with Una. On the way, they meet with a