At the end of Part IV in the Knight’s Tale, we find the death of one of the Knights, Arcita. Arcita, weakened during combat against his cousin Palamon, is believed to be recovering, but at the end there is nothing that can be done to help him survive, and so, he unfortunately dies. This death is resented throughout the town, but it mostly affects Duke Theseus. In fact, “Arcita bore himself so well in peace and war that there was no one Theseus valued more” (page 42). Duke Theseus had a great relationship with Arcita, and had made him personal and chamber-squire for many years, although he knew him under the name of Philostrate, and not Arcita, the prisoner caught when he conquered Thebes. In desperation, his only aid comes through his father,
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After talking to his father, and understanding the role of things in the world, Duke Theseus calls for Palamon and Emily. After a few moments of silence, he sighs and express his thoughts to both of them. He explains how The First Great Cause and Mover of all above had a high intent, because He knew what to do and He knew what He meant when He made the chain of love. He then set in motion seasons and the duration of things, duration of life, duration of days. He assigned for things to grow, live, and then die, as nothing can be eternal. In fact, he makes the examples of trees, how they live to become magnificent, but then must die, and never come …show more content…
He believes that in fact only wicked and evil people can go against God, as it is clear that He is present, as nature starts from the whole perfection that he created. “His is a foolish soul/that’s rebel against Him who guides the whole,/and it is honor to a man whose hour/strikes in his day of excellence and flower,/when he is certain of his own good name/and never known in any act of shame” (Knight’s Tale, page 84). With these words Duke Theseus explains to both Palamon and Emily the difference between evil and good people. How a person that goes against God is just ruining his life and condemning his soul, and how honorable it is for a person to strike in excellence for God.
The way in which Boethius wonders about evil people, and the way in which Duke Theseus sees wicked people are again very similar between them. Boethius is answered by Philosophy about good and wicked people, and Theseus understands himself the difference that being wicked makes. He, in fact, knows that a person would deprive himself of his soul, should he or she decide to go against God’s rules. Boethius, on the other hand, understands that wicked people become more wicked the more they are able to perform their evil acts. Even though they may wound others, it will be them that will suffer the
After talking to his father, and understanding the role of things in the world, Duke Theseus calls for Palamon and Emily. After a few moments of silence, he sighs and express his thoughts to both of them. He explains how The First Great Cause and Mover of all above had a high intent, because He knew what to do and He knew what He meant when He made the chain of love. He then set in motion seasons and the duration of things, duration of life, duration of days. He assigned for things to grow, live, and then die, as nothing can be eternal. In fact, he makes the examples of trees, how they live to become magnificent, but then must die, and never come …show more content…
He believes that in fact only wicked and evil people can go against God, as it is clear that He is present, as nature starts from the whole perfection that he created. “His is a foolish soul/that’s rebel against Him who guides the whole,/and it is honor to a man whose hour/strikes in his day of excellence and flower,/when he is certain of his own good name/and never known in any act of shame” (Knight’s Tale, page 84). With these words Duke Theseus explains to both Palamon and Emily the difference between evil and good people. How a person that goes against God is just ruining his life and condemning his soul, and how honorable it is for a person to strike in excellence for God.
The way in which Boethius wonders about evil people, and the way in which Duke Theseus sees wicked people are again very similar between them. Boethius is answered by Philosophy about good and wicked people, and Theseus understands himself the difference that being wicked makes. He, in fact, knows that a person would deprive himself of his soul, should he or she decide to go against God’s rules. Boethius, on the other hand, understands that wicked people become more wicked the more they are able to perform their evil acts. Even though they may wound others, it will be them that will suffer the