Discuss “The Franklin’s Tale” and “Hero and Leander”in terms of Love and Desire.
... performing: “many a labour, many a greet emprise” (line 24) and was so in love with her that he scarcely dared to tell her “his wo, his peyne and his distress” (line 29) However, Dorigen saw his great qualities, considered him worthy and decided to “Take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord.” (line34) Unfortunately, only a few years later, Arverigus is called away to Britain, leaving Dorigen inconsolable at her loss. “She moorneth, waketh, wayleth fasteth, pleyneth Desire of his presence hire so distreyneth” That all this wyde world she sette at noght” (lines 111-113) In an attempt to cheer her, her friends throw a party in her garden. It is from here that the conventions of the later ‘courtly love’ are begun and followed. The party is set in a garden so beautiful: “That never was there garden of swich prys, But if it were the very paradise” (lines 203-204) The garden is readily recognisable as a literary garden of love2 and one cannot help but be reminded of the Garden of Eden and hence be wary of what is to follow. Continuing with the tradition of ‘courtly love’, Chaucer introduces us to Aurelius, whom we are told has “Loved her [Dorigen] best of any creature Two year or more” (lines 231 - 232) As a result of him being fearful of rejection and her (now) unavailability, he has only just got the courage to tell her. Keeping her promise of loyalty to Arverigus, Dorigen gently declines Aurelius and makes the mistake of playfully adding that if he remove all the rocks she’ll give herself to him. At this and thereby still adhering to the rules of ‘courtly love’, Aurelius feels he would rather die than continue living without her. The tale progresses and unfortunately for Dorigen, Aurelius does appear to accomplish the impossible task she set. However, the tale now switches it’s focus from love to the desire. Specifically the desire for nobility, loyalty and kindness - known as ‘Gentilesse’. Arverigus returns to a sombre Dorigen who tells him everything, in her desire to be honest. Arverigus, in his need to uphold his nobility, tells her he will endure any burden of what she must do and instructs her to fulfil her promise. Aurelius is so impressed with Arverigus’ honour that he releases Dorigen from her promise. He is in turn released from his by the law student/magician. However I believe that of the three, Arverigus was the only driven by the desire to what is right, Arverigus and the student acted through respect of his actions. The next text, “Hero and Leander”, is entirely different. Marlowe’s poem, also written in rhyming couplets, is much less serious than “The Franklin’s Tale”. Whilst both were written to entertain, “The Franklin’s Tale” does leave the audience with something to think about. “Hero and Leander” however, is an extremely amusing satirized version of a Greek love story. A different type of love is also shown in Marlowe’s poem. “The Franklin’s Tale” was concerned with correct courtship and a more pure, almost spiritual love. The love in “Hero and Leander” is far more primal and lustier, with the focus on desire. Both Hero and Leander are introduced to us as near perfect specimens of man and woman. Marlowe delivers these lengthy descriptions using the technique of blazon, in which he lists all of their excellent physical features. Hero is so beautiful the gods desired her: “Hero the faire, whom young Apollo courted” and Leander was so beautiful he was said to be “a maid in man’s attire” – a statement which sparked debate over Marlowe’s sexuality. Hero is also described as “Venus’ nun” which is a paradoxical term. Venus was the goddess of love and desire, not in it’s pure, spiritual form, but in it’s more base, physical form. She was also the goddess of prostitutes. It is surprising then that a goddess who flaunted sexual freedom and liberation would have nuns who were expected to be chaste. Leander also highlights this fact later in his attempt to win her. Unsurprisingly, Leander falls desperately in love. Driven by desire and lust, Leander tries again and again to take Hero’s maidenhood and Hero again and again denies him. That is not to say that she doesn’t herself desire Leander - indeed we are told very early on that she loved him deeply: “he touched her hand and in touching it she trembled, Love deeply grounded, hardly is dissembled” (lines 183 - 184) However, Hero is in conflict. She is torn between her “spotless chastitie” and her “true love”. As a result, it is difficult for the reader to know who to feel most pity for! Leander’s first attempt to conquer Hero is done by extremely clever rhetoric. He begins by using an elaborate sexual metaphor, comparing her to a beautiful palace. He warns her that denying entry to such a wondrous place would leave it ruined and forlorn: “Who builds a palace and rams up the gate Shall see it ruinous and desolate. Ah simple Hero, le...