The Franklin account by Chaucer has been tautened by many as to illustrate several themes .In this tale, Chaucer adduces out the true values and culture of the medieval British society. Further, the concept of marriage is vividly illustrated. Critics postulate that, Chaucer's tale has a forbearing in his own ideals and experience, though ambivalent in the sense that, numerous tales before the Franklin tale accommodate the same account (Spearing 2). The tale is a moving and thrilling encounter that stresses on the principles of patience, morality, humility, honor, and nobility, with great focus on marriage based on respect, patience, trust, and equality. Further according to Morgan the account is formulated on basis of moral and philosophical conceptions about the reality of Providence and generosity among individuals and humanity at large (23) However, the originality of the tale is disputable, in that Chaucer might have appropriated the conceptions from the Italian tales of the Decameron and Il Filocolo by Boccaccio.
In the tale, Arveragus a knight in the land of Brittany falls in love with Dorigen, a fair maiden, from a noble family. Arveragus is wary of her status and finds it hard to assert his affections to her .Thus in courting her; he undergoes complexities, but eventually abducts her love, due to his humility and attentiveness. Dorigen clandestinely accedes to marry him and become subjective to his lordship just like any other woman of the epoch. Thus for them to leave in love and harmony, Arveragus in his free will accepts and vows not to be authoritative over her. They both vow to respect each other and to exercise patience and humility towards each other while at the same time maintain ,the conventional marriage concept in public. Arveragus thus agree to exception that, "he wanted only the sovereignty in name, lest he should shame his rank as husband." (Robinson 752).
[...] However, she refuses his advances, but Aurelius keeps on persisting, jokingly she says she would accept his advances if he could accomplish what she believed would be an impossible task of removing all the rocks from the coast of Brittany. Desperate, Aurelius prayed to Apollo to send a flood to cover the rocks. Later Arveragus returns home, as both couples cherish their unity. Determined to succeed Aurelius brother assists him in gaining the services of a magician who upon payment of 1000 pounds casts a spell, which clears the rocks. This prompts Dorigen, to owner her vow. [...]
[...] In times when men fought to uphold, the family dignity Arveragus sends his wife to another man though the predicaments greatly trouble him. His action, depict nobility decency and sincerity in upholding the truth. ”Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe” (Morgan.23). Again, Aurelius and the marriage agreement between the two demonstrate truth. The two are able to adhere to their promises as demonstrates by Dorigen refusal to accept Aurelius. Thus, according to scholars this demonstrates a concept of emotional truth. Hence, Chaucer seeks to illustrate the importance of truth in any marriage. [...]
[...] The Franklin Tale by Chaucer The Franklin account by Chaucer has been tautened by many as to illustrate several themes .In this tale, Chaucer adduces out the true values and culture of the medieval British society. Further, the concept of marriage is vividly illustrated. Critics postulate that, Chaucer's tale has a forbearing in his own ideals and experience, though ambivalent in the sense that, numerous tales before the Franklin tale accommodate the same account (Spearing 2). The tale is a moving and thrilling encounter that stresses on the principles of patience, morality, humility, honor, and nobility, with great focus on marriage based on respect, patience, trust, and equality. [...]
[...] In a medieval world where religion and custom dictated women to be submissive to men, Chaucer explicitly goes contrally to the norm and custom of the time, by presenting an avant-garde marriage ideal based on mutual respect ,equality, faithfulness and patience. It is thus rather impossible to tie Chaucer with a conflicting opinion of marriage. Here, Chaucer's certitude and opinion that an ideal marriage bases on a relationship based on mutual respect and equality, is nonetheless his own opinion. Thus, doubtless Franklin tale bases its roots on the opinion and experiences of Chaucer. Gardner quips the Franklin's account represents Chaucer's own philosophical conception that all classes must be governed by "patience." As demonstrated in the marriage of the two (255). [...]
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