In ‘The Canterbury Tales,” by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight’s Tale tells a story of two cousins fighting over the same woman, which in the end dramatically embodies the chivalric code. Throughout the story, each man’s morals are tested to such extremes that their true character is revealed, which is what Chaucer intended the reader to see.
According to Chaucer, “There was a Knight, a valiant man, who, from the time he had first begun to venture out, had loved chivalry, truth and honor, liberality and courtesy. (5)” This is exactly what the Knight wanted to show in his story. He wanted to let the other travelers know what he was really about: truth and honor, liberality and courtesy. One would think that the two main characters in his story, Arcite and Palamon, would personify the code of chivalry with their actions, but at many times their actions directly go against what the Knight wants to show. It would seem that the Knight wanted to display both sides of chivalric actions, thus proving a point both ways.
The tale begins with an epic battle, where Arcite and Palamon, cousins, are nearly fatally wounded and taken prisoner by King Theseus. The pillagers of the battle actually “pulled them from the heap of bodies and carried them gently to Theseus. (49)” They could have easily killed Arcite and Palamon, but they were good men, thus acting chivalrously. The King takes pity on these ornately ordained Knights, and puts them in his tower dungeon, never to be released.
Many years later, Arcite and Palamon were still in their tower prison cell. Palamon catches a glimpse of Emily, beautiful sister-in-law of King Theseus. He cries out in anguish, because she is such a heavenly sight to be seen. Arcite asks why he yelled out, and Palamon explains what he saw. “It was not this prison that made me cry out, but I was hurt just now through my eyes and to my heart- the hurt will be my destruction. The beauty of the lady whom I see wandering yonder in the garden is the cause of all my cries and woe. (53)” Arcite then peers out of the window, and he too instantly falls in love with the fair Emily. They argue over her, which is pointless because they are to be imprisoned in the tower forever. After a much-heated argument, they realize how stupid their argument is.
After the first glimpses of Emily, it seemed that their chivalric actions in battle years before their imprisonment had worn off, because they were destroying their friendship for a woman that neither would ever meet nor have a chance to have her fall in love with them. The Knight shows what it’s like to be disloyal: destroying a solid friendship for an abstract person and idea.
Some time later one day, a duke named Perotheus, friend both to Theseus and Arcite, petitions for Arcite’s freedom. Theseus agrees, on the condition that Arcite be banished permanently from Athens on pain of death. Arcite returns to Thebes, miserable and jealous of Palamon, who can still see Emily every day from the tower. But Palamon, too, grows more depressed than ever before; he believes Arcite will bring an army to Athens and take Emily. Once again, their truth and honor is tested, and they fail miserably. They don’t even trust each other. It seems the Knight wants to show the trials of living a chivalrous life.
Arcite finally returns to Athens after receiving a vision from the god Mercury. He uses his own aged face as a disguise in order to get closer to Emily. At the same time, Palamon escapes from prison, in order to accomplish the same goal that Arcite has set out to accomplish. Palamon hears Arcite singing a song about Emily in the woods where he was hiding, and bursts out of the brush and confronts Arcite. Palamon cannot believe that Arcite would betray him. “Arcite, false and wicked traitor, now you are caught, you who so love my lady (for whom I have all this pain and sorrow), you who are of my blood, and are sworn to be on my side (as I have often told you before this), either you shall die, or I will. You shall not have my lady Emily. (75)” Arcite challenges his old friend to a duel the next day. They meet in a field and fight, nearly to the death.
Theseus, out on a hunt, finds these two warriors brutally fighting with each other. Palamon reveals their identities and their love for Emily. He asks the duke to decide for them what their fate should ought to be, suggesting that they both be killed if one cannot have Emily’s hand. Theseus more than considers killing them, but Emily and the other woman present a plea for Arcite and Palamon’s life. He obeys their wishes, and decides that whomever wins a tournament style battle in fifty days will win also Emily’s love.
It is interesting how Theseus takes Emily and the other women’s opinions and pleas into consideration. A grand battle seemed like the very honorable thing to do for the duke, and he is being chivalrous by preventing the death of two men for no reason.
After a large feast, the spectators assemble in the stadium, which was built by Theseus’ men for the immense battle scene. The hundred-men armies enter, appearing evenly matched. After Theseus announces the rules, the bloody battle of flashing swords and maces begins. Though Palamon fights valiantly, Arcite takes advantage of the moment and puts a sword to Palamon’s throat, thus winning the battle. Arcite shows some chivalry by not killing Palamon. He stays true to his original plan because he really only desires Emily’s hand in marriage, not Palamon’s death by his own hand. Emily rejoices as Theseus proclaims Arcite victorious. When Arcite rides towards Theseus to claim his victory, his horse throws him off and ends up crushing his chest. Nearly dead, Theseus’ men carry Arcite to bed, where doctors try to no avail to heal him. On his deathbed, Arcite tells Emily what she must do. “With my cousin Palamon here I have had strife and rancor for much past time, for the love of you, and for my jealousy…. And if you are ever to be a wife, forget not Palamon, the gentle man. (131)”
This is an amazing show of chivalry from Arcite. He puts all of his problems with Palamon behind him and gives up the love of his life to his cousin that he had been feuding with for over ten years. In the end, it was Arcite’s chivalry that displayed his true character.
Theseus’ burial of Arcite really encompasses the whole code of chivalry that The Knight’s Tale was meant to show. “Duke Theseus will all diligent care now planned where the funeral of good Arcite might be best held in a manner honorable to his rank. In the end he decided that in the place where Arcite and Palamon first battled for love- in the same fresh, green grove where Arcite showed his amorous desires, his plaint, and the ardent fires of love… (134)”
It’s interesting to think, at the end of The Knight’s Tale, Arcite and Palamon are heroes. They began as knights, fighting in a huge battle. They then became prisoners of war, doomed to die in a tower prison. Arcite and Palamon become bitter enemies, nearly fighting each other to the death. And the funny thing is, the only characteristic that comes through in the end is that they were very chivalrous, which is true. The Knight’s story is intended to be mostly forgotten, except for the ending. The other travelers in “Canterbury Tales” probably were captivated by the story and the fascinating ending.
The Knight’s Tale contains the formula for a great epic story: love, passion, deaths, and the Knight’s true purpose for telling the story…chivalry.
