Religious Themes
Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene serves as a rich tapestry interweaving both classical and Christian virtues into a unique narrative fabric. Drawing from the classical concept of the four cardinal virtues—Fortitude, Temperance, Justice, and Prudence—Spenser also embeds the Christian theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity within his work. His synthesis of these traditional ideals emerges not merely as a direct replication but as an imaginative reinterpretation, offering readers a nuanced exploration of virtue.
In his "Letter to Raleigh," Spenser outlined his ambitious vision, proposing to address twelve private virtues as described by Aristotle through a series of books, with a future work intended for the “politicke virtues” or public virtues. However, his untimely death left this grand plan incomplete, with only six books finished out of the intended twenty-four. These six volumes delve into holiness, temperance, chastity, friendship, justice, and courtesy, blurring the lines between public and private spheres of virtue. While scholars have attempted to categorize these virtues, such efforts often fall short, as Spenser’s portrayal transcends simple classification.
Spenser’s narrative technique vividly brings abstract virtues to life through adventurous episodes and symbolic imagery. Each book features a knight who personifies a particular virtue, navigating trials and facing adversaries that define and develop their character. For instance, the first book introduces Red Cross, or Saint George of England, who embarks on a journey typifying the virtue of Holiness. His path leads him to the House of Pride, where he witnesses a procession of the seven deadly sins: pride, wrath, jealousy, avarice, gluttony, sloth, and lechery. This encounter tests his virtue, as he succumbs to the deceptive charms of Duessa, which lands him in the clutches of Orgoglio, a giant symbolizing pride. This misstep leaves him susceptible to Despair, whose persuasive rhetoric nearly overpowers him.
Despite these setbacks, Red Cross gains a transformative vision of the New Jerusalem from the Mount of Contemplation, rejuvenating his spirit. This revelation sets the stage for his visit to the House of Holiness, a crucial preparation for his climactic confrontation with a dragon. This dragon, embodying Satan, the Beast of the Apocalypse, and the Spanish Armada, presents a formidable challenge. Red Cross’s triumph after a fierce three-day battle evokes the harrowing of Hell by Jesus Christ, showcasing holiness as not merely a contemplative but an active and heroic virtue.
While the explicit Christian themes are more pronounced in the first book, the subsequent volumes continue to explore virtue in both personal and social contexts. The Faerie Queene remains a profound meditation on the nature of virtue, inviting readers to reflect on its multifaceted role in both individual lives and society as a whole.
Duty and Responsibility
In The Faerie Queene, Spenser emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duties and embracing responsibility to successfully complete a quest. The poem presents numerous heroic figures, each with a designated mission, often involving the defeat of a monster or demon. While each hero encounters various challenges and obstacles, the primary focus remains on the significance of their quest. For example, the Red Cross Knight battles numerous demons and must overcome despair, yet he continues to strive to rescue the King and Queen of the West. Likewise, Artegall is saved by Britomart, and even though he wishes to stay with her, he remains dedicated to the mission of freeing Irena. Calidore, despite being briefly sidetracked by a pastoral interlude, acknowledges his responsibility to complete his task of taming the Blatant Beast. Throughout this epic, Spenser continually conveys that humanity must be accountable and fulfill their responsibilities.
Deception
In Spenser's writings, deception is frequently represented by the...
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Roman Catholic Church and Spain, which serves as a symbol of Catholicism in Britain. Characters like Archimago and Duessa personify the deceptive forces that aim to obstruct honorable individuals from completing their quests and attaining divine truth. During this period, the divide between the Catholic and Protestant worlds was characterized by mutual suspicion and hostility. Spenser uses this tension to imply that an ideal Britain is one where the true faith, the Anglican Church, prevails over the formidable Roman Catholic Church. This idea is exemplified by the Red Cross Knight's triumph over the deceit of Archimago and Duessa. Just as virtuous individuals encounter temptation, these two characters repeatedly appear throughout the epic, requiring their defeat by various noble knights. Spenser's contemporaries would have easily identified Archimago and Duessa as symbols of the Catholic Church or prominent Catholic figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Friendship
The connections between people and their interactions with others are central themes in Spenser's work. None of the knights act alone. The Red Cross Knight depends on Prince Arthur's help to succeed, and Arthur feels the absence of his squire, Timias, when he is missing. Arthur repeatedly appears in the epic, consistently forming alliances with other knights to assist them in their quests. No knight reaches their goals without help; each needs the friendship of others to accomplish their mission.
Beyond the camaraderie among men, Book IV emphasizes the significance of friendship, especially among women. Britomart and Amoret's joint quest to discover their true loves underscores the vital role of women's friendships in achieving their goals.
Humanism
Humanism emerged as an intellectual movement during the Renaissance in Italy and quickly expanded across Europe, reaching England. Influential figures like Sir Thomas More and Desiderius Erasmus were pivotal authors within this movement, advocating for the education of Christian gentlemen. This education mainly prepared individuals for public service roles, with a strong focus on classical literature and the study of Latin, the diplomatic language. Spenser's intention in writing The Faerie Queene was to craft an ideal model for gentlemen, aiming to educate the public on chivalric ideals by drawing inspiration from medieval romance, which he viewed as representing a superior society.
His work not only revives the classical epic—a form not fully utilized since Virgil—but also underscores the principles of charity, friendship, and virtue, which are central to the Humanistic movement. Prior to the Reformation, Humanism embraced Catholicism as an ideal, as exemplified by Sir Thomas More. However, following the Reformation, Protestantism became the new ideal for English Humanists, including Spenser.
Justice
Justice is a prominent theme in The Faerie Queene, particularly in Book V. Sir Artegall is portrayed as the embodiment of Justice. Spenser illustrates Artegall as having the authority to administer justice, but he also learns that justice is often complicated, with not everyone receiving their due. Artegall discovers that determining what is right or fair is not always simple. When addressing the case of Sir Sanglier, Artegall must employ his intellect to make a Solomon-like judgment to identify the guilty party. Later, he resolves a disagreement between Bracidas and Amidas, assessing the consistency of the law. Artegall also learns that, in dealing with the Amazons, justice mixed with compassion can sometimes be ineffective. The trial of Duessa, which wraps up Book V, illustrates that justice is most effective when used to settle disputes.
Virtue
Virtue is a key theme in The Faerie Queene. Spenser suggests that those who embody virtue are destined to successfully complete their journeys or quests. Each knight on a quest for the Faerie Queene encounters numerous challenges and deceptions. Their triumph is due to their inner fortitude, dedication to their mission, and, importantly, their adherence to a moral life. These knights are considered worthy of victory because they are inherently good and virtuous. To emphasize the contrast with a life of virtue, Spenser introduces the adversaries of virtue. In Book I, the Red Cross Knight meets Lucifera, the ruler of Pride. Her six attendants—Idleness, Gluttony, Lechery, Avarice, Envy, and Wrath—personify the seven deadly sins, serving as the opposite of the virtuous ideal. In Book III, four women—Britomart, Florimell, Belphoebe, and Amoret—strive to preserve their chastity. Through these characters, and many others throughout the six books, Spenser highlights the importance of chastity in a Christian life. Morality is also vital to the chivalric ideal in other respects. When Arthur rescues Amoret in Book IV, it is certain that he will ensure her safe and unblemished arrival at her destination. He, along with Artegall, Guyon, and Calidore, represents the honorable knight. Each one follows his code, making virtue, morality, and chastity essential elements of their character.
