I cannot thank you enough for this series. I teach the General Prologue and the Knight's and Miller's Tales to my seniors. This is a wonderful assist to my own efforts.
In addition to being a main character in the Knight's Tale, Theseus is also name dropped in the House of Fame. Except in the House of Fame, the dreamer makes the point that Theseus betrayed Ariadne even though she had saved his life. The Theseus in the Knight Tale's is portrayed as noble and knowledgeable, yet we begin the poem with him marrying Hippolyta after conquering the Amazons. To echo you Dr. Halbrooks, Theseus is indeed the epitome of patriarchy. But even so Theseus is subject to fate. His fame and recognition is entirely dependent on the ever-changing winds of gossip and rumor, central themes explored in the House of Fame. It puts into context his speech at the end of the Knight's Tale, that everyone including Arcite and Palamon are at the mercy of fate and no man can truly understand it, not even Theseus himself.
Yes, and this might be an excellent starting point for your paper. Focus on that speech, and consider it alongside the capriciousness of fortune and fame. In that context, Theseus's celebration of Arcite dying with his reputation intact is perhaps less consolatory?
Alright, you started it. I can only make associations with classic rock songs. The reference to Sweet Home Alabama in the post title had me thinking of Spinning Wheel by Blood Sweat and Tears which is explicitly a wheel of fortune. The passage you quoted from Saturn had me thinking of Sympathy for the Devil. And I’ve always loved Season of the Witch by Donovan if only for the verse where he looks over his shoulder.
I’m also reading the Iliad with another substack. We just read Hector telling his wife that he has to go out and fight with the strong implication that he won’t come home alive but like in Boethius he has no choice, it’s already fated. He prays that his son will grow up to rule Troy, knowing it won’t happen but I guess that’s a type of inner tranquility.
Not only does Emelye not get her prayer answered but she gets over it immediately and proceeds to mourn intensely.
Ha! I always mention "Sympathy for the Devil" when I discuss these lines in class--though most of my students these days don't know it. I was actually thinking of "Proud Mary" instead of "Sweet Home Alabama," though they both feature that line.
And yes, I think this sense of the inevitability of fate despite human will goes back from Boethius to the Greeks and the Romans. It's essentially a form of Stoicism.
Emelye's quick turnaround is a struggle for students, who are used to reading novels with "realistic" characters. It helps to think of this as primarily a philosophical tale rather than a psychological one.
Liviu Ciulei production of Midsummer’s Night Dream was quite dark. The production emphasized the men’s power over women, including the humiliation of Titania by making her fall in love with an ass.
I cannot thank you enough for this series. I teach the General Prologue and the Knight's and Miller's Tales to my seniors. This is a wonderful assist to my own efforts.
Thanks, Brett. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Let us know how the teaching goes.
In addition to being a main character in the Knight's Tale, Theseus is also name dropped in the House of Fame. Except in the House of Fame, the dreamer makes the point that Theseus betrayed Ariadne even though she had saved his life. The Theseus in the Knight Tale's is portrayed as noble and knowledgeable, yet we begin the poem with him marrying Hippolyta after conquering the Amazons. To echo you Dr. Halbrooks, Theseus is indeed the epitome of patriarchy. But even so Theseus is subject to fate. His fame and recognition is entirely dependent on the ever-changing winds of gossip and rumor, central themes explored in the House of Fame. It puts into context his speech at the end of the Knight's Tale, that everyone including Arcite and Palamon are at the mercy of fate and no man can truly understand it, not even Theseus himself.
Yes, and this might be an excellent starting point for your paper. Focus on that speech, and consider it alongside the capriciousness of fortune and fame. In that context, Theseus's celebration of Arcite dying with his reputation intact is perhaps less consolatory?
Alright, you started it. I can only make associations with classic rock songs. The reference to Sweet Home Alabama in the post title had me thinking of Spinning Wheel by Blood Sweat and Tears which is explicitly a wheel of fortune. The passage you quoted from Saturn had me thinking of Sympathy for the Devil. And I’ve always loved Season of the Witch by Donovan if only for the verse where he looks over his shoulder.
I’m also reading the Iliad with another substack. We just read Hector telling his wife that he has to go out and fight with the strong implication that he won’t come home alive but like in Boethius he has no choice, it’s already fated. He prays that his son will grow up to rule Troy, knowing it won’t happen but I guess that’s a type of inner tranquility.
Not only does Emelye not get her prayer answered but she gets over it immediately and proceeds to mourn intensely.
Ha! I always mention "Sympathy for the Devil" when I discuss these lines in class--though most of my students these days don't know it. I was actually thinking of "Proud Mary" instead of "Sweet Home Alabama," though they both feature that line.
And yes, I think this sense of the inevitability of fate despite human will goes back from Boethius to the Greeks and the Romans. It's essentially a form of Stoicism.
Emelye's quick turnaround is a struggle for students, who are used to reading novels with "realistic" characters. It helps to think of this as primarily a philosophical tale rather than a psychological one.
Of course! Proud Mary is more relevant. If we are talking CCR then the question must be: which of our pilgrims is most likely to choogle?
Haha! Wife of Bath--no question.
Liviu Ciulei production of Midsummer’s Night Dream was quite dark. The production emphasized the men’s power over women, including the humiliation of Titania by making her fall in love with an ass.
Interesting! That sequence is usually played for laughs, but the dark potential is certainly there.