Chaucer uses symbolism and characterization to describe how men do not value women in that time period. “The Second Nun’s Priestess” is about a lady named Cecilia …show more content…
“The Knight’s Tale” is about two cousins, Palamon and Arcita, who fight for the love of one girl, Emily. In “The Knight’s tale” Arcita gets exiled and arrives at King Thebes palace. When he arrives he has a dream from the God Mercury and he tells him “‘ To Athens you must go,/ there waits the destined ending of your woe’” (38). When King Thebes hears of the problems arising between cousins, Arcita and Palamon, he intervenes. He tells them they shall not cause any harm to his country and he will let them leave wherever they wish and come back twelve months later with an army and “kill or drive from his list his adversary” and he will “give in marriage Emily” (49). King Thebes does not tell Emily about his plan, he just tells Arcita and Palamon whoever the victor is will have her hand in marriage. What Mercury tells Arcita symbolizes how he will have an unending fate. When Emily finds out that two men are fighting for her, she prays to the goddess Diana. Emily prays to Diana and tell her she “desires to be a virgin all her life/ Never to be a mistress or a wife” (61). Characterizes Emily because she does not want to be married she wants to be pure but King Thebes is forcing her without her approval. Chaucer uses the characterization of King Thebes to describe how he does not care what women want because he believes women are her to abide by the rules given by