Criseyde’s Way of Life versus Troilus’ Pain of Life:
Chaucer lived in a patriarchal society. Men were supposed to exhibit traits of manliness, while women were meant to be chaste and silent. In Troilus and Criseyde, Chaucer challenges and inverts these social values. I will show that Criseyde is seen as elegant and cunning woman, whereas Troilus is an inactive and helpless man. As the text develops, Criseyde emerges as the dominant, practical character who lives happily, while Troilus dies a death of misery and pain. In order to dissect the roles prescribed by gender, I will explore the contrasting ways in which the two love each other. In the end I will prove that Chaucer inverts the social order that calls for male dominance. Criseyde is perhaps the most powerful, wisest, and knowledgeable character in the text. In the beginning of the text, her uncle Pandarus, convinces her to take on Troilus as a man lover. Pandarus forces, blackmails, and threatens Criseyde to display interest and or love for Troilus. Chaucer explains the following discussion between Pandarus and Criseyde, “Take it, and don’t refuse!’ He caught her gown, And in her bosom thrust the letter down… I will write nothing to him, let me state.’ ‘No? Well, I will,’ he said, ‘if youâ
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Approximate Word count = 1383
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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