Chaucer’s presentation of Courtly Love in ‘The Franklin’s Tale’
...nal that Dorigen, the heroine of the Franklin's Tale shows 'pitee' for him. But it is apparent that Arveragus does not assume he has power and control over his wife; He will 'take no maistrie' (747) . The only thing he asks is that he should keep the appearance of power: 'the name of soveraynetee'. Seemingly what is being presented is a type of mutually respectful and in most ways equal relationship. It is important to remember that considering we are talking about the mediaeval era this is a pretty radical attitude. The only condition on which the knight insists is that he should at least give the appearance of being in charge. Having given Aurelius a firm 'no', Dorigen then adds that she would only love Aurelius when all the rocks have been removed along the coast of Brittany. Ironically it all hinges on the interpretation of what to Dorigen was an example of the impossibility of the situation. I think the tale drastically changes in its attitude towards women in general when Arveragus insists that Dorigen should keep her word as the impossible has happened. I think here there is a double irony because if this situation was impossible as Dorigen thought then it is not a possibility for her to keep her word based on what she thought. There is the fact that it does not seem to matter to either man that Dorigen would have to be unwillingly unfaithful. Arveragus claims that the shame is all his and forbids his wife to tell anyone 'on pain of death', and then orders her to report his decision to the squire. Immediately one wonders what happened to their ideally 'equal' relationship, their mutual 'maistrie'. Arveragus is not only keeping up the appearance of 'soveraynetee'; he seems to have taken over complete control. 'Love' I can see only in a very general heading as really what we are talking about here is an exploration of power or control within human relationships I think one can see that Dorigen is just a vehicle for egoism regarding both men. The fact that Aurelius has traditionally not acted honourably seems to be completely overlooked. I would go as far as to say that there is in fact some kind of male bonding at play. Dorigen comes over as a lonely figure who does not seem to possess any rights in the matter. I think it is interesting at this point that Dorigen complains about abuse of women in general. It is almost as if she is showing how it really is. That the 'worthynesse' of the husband at the beginning not having 'maistre' is sham. 'Worthynesse' is suddenly only interpreted between men and has nothing to do with his role as a husband. It is quite obvious that Dorigen has little direct power and depends on the whims and decisions of men. I think this part of the tale reveals that there is a class struggle for power from the Franklin. 'Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this, And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas, Rather than with hir body doon trespas?' (364-366) The magician stresses the fact that the knight, squire and himself have tried to act nobly ('gentily'). Dorigen does not figure in the magician's view of things. Nor does it seem if Dorigen is included in the narrator's final question: 'Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow?' But I think one needs to question whether 'nobility' is simply a matter of social rank, or (as the magician believes) more a matter of personal worth. If what the magician says is true one cannot help wondering where Dorigen's worth lies in all this. Th...