Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucer's Troilus and CriseydeOne of the aspects of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde that seemed most confusing at first was the apparent ambiguity or complete lack of motivation provided by the author. for the main characters. Chaucer provides little explanation for why his main characters act as they do; when he does, his explanations are often ambiguous or contradictory. Pandarus is a great example of a character whose motivations are ambiguous. The only motives clearly attributable to him based on the text of the poem appear to be the friendship and affection he and Troilus have for each other, which is supported by the narrator's assertion that " Pandarus… [was] eager to serve his friend in full. " (Chaucer 1.1058-9); a voyeuristic instinct (which might be supported by the fact that Pandarus seems to arrange opportunities for Troilus and Criseyde to have trysts, whenever possible, in his presence – e.g., his presence for an indefinite period during the night Troilus and Criseyde spend in his guest room) and the wish to fulfill vicariously, through his friend Troilus, those romantic desires which have been thwarted throughout life; This last (and perhaps most justifiable) explanation is suggested by the constant identifications Pandarus makes with Troilus, saying "myn avys anoon may help us" and asking Troilus if "Fortune, our joy, could us." overthrow", and by his explanation that "I...never felt my service / A friendly cheer or glance." (1.620, 4.385, 4.397-8) All of these motives for Chaucer's Pandarus could be supported , but none seems clearly more plausible than the others. However, for these vaguely defined reasons, ...... middle of paper ...... should be described as less happy: he lost Criseyde, was denied revenge against his new lover, and died . It's hard to imagine a more powerful combination of facts and writing to make a point. As if to bring him back to reality, Chaucer's narrator then refers to "Jove, Apollo,...Mars" as "swich rascaille" or scoundrel. The intricacies of Middle English can be confusing to a new reader at first, and "understanding" is a word with subtle variations in meaning and a variety of connotations. Properly understood, however, it adds much to the understanding of Chaucer's Troilus.ReferencesChaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Criseyde in The Riverside Chaucer. Ed. General. Benson, Larry D. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987. Tatlock, John SP, and Arthur G. Kennedy. A concordance with the complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Gloucester: Peter Smith, 1963.

Essay / Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucer's Troilus and CriseydeOne of the aspects of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde that seemed most confusing at first was the apparent ambiguity or complete lack of motivation provided by the author. for the main characters. Chaucer provides little explanation for why his main characters act as they do; when he does, his explanations are often ambiguous or contradictory. Pandarus is a great example of a character whose motivations are ambiguous. The only motives clearly attributable to him based on the text of the poem appear to be the friendship and affection he and Troilus have for each other, which is supported by the narrator's assertion that " Pandarus… [was] eager to serve his friend in full. " (Chaucer 1.1058-9); a voyeuristic instinct (which might be supported by the fact that Pandarus seems to arrange opportunities for Troilus and Criseyde to have trysts, whenever possible, in his presence – e.g., his presence for an indefinite period during the night Troilus and Criseyde spend in his guest room) and the wish to fulfill vicariously, through his friend Troilus, those romantic desires which have been thwarted throughout life; This last (and perhaps most justifiable) explanation is suggested by the constant identifications Pandarus makes with Troilus, saying "myn avys anoon may help us" and asking Troilus if "Fortune, our joy, could us." overthrow", and by his explanation that "I...never felt my service / A friendly cheer or glance." (1.620, 4.385, 4.397-8) All of these motives for Chaucer's Pandarus could be supported , but none seems clearly more plausible than the others. However, for these vaguely defined reasons, ...... middle of paper ...... should be described as less happy: he lost Criseyde, was denied revenge against his new lover, and died . It's hard to imagine a more powerful combination of facts and writing to make a point. As if to bring him back to reality, Chaucer's narrator then refers to "Jove, Apollo,...Mars" as "swich rascaille" or scoundrel. The intricacies of Middle English can be confusing to a new reader at first, and "understanding" is a word with subtle variations in meaning and a variety of connotations. Properly understood, however, it adds much to the understanding of Chaucer's Troilus.ReferencesChaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Criseyde in The Riverside Chaucer. Ed. General. Benson, Larry D. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987. Tatlock, John SP, and Arthur G. Kennedy. A concordance with the complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Gloucester: Peter Smith, 1963.

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