About Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Troilus und Criseyde'

Criseyde: A Romance Heroine?

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,3, University of Münster, language: English, abstract: Dealing with female characters created by Geoffrey Chaucer one will certainly come across Criseyde, his heroine in Troilus and Criseyde. She was a much misunderstood heroine in the Middle Ages, her name a byword for female treachery and falseness. Criseyde, being in the unfavourable position as a wealthy woman, abandoned by her treacherous father, still has a rather 'assured manner' at the temple when Troilus first sees her. This Trojan heroine is definitely a character who can be interpreted in many different ways and it also carries a complex body of criticism. This work is not going to concentrate on Criseyde's character in detail but on her role as a romance heroine. Thus, in this seminar paper, I want to consider whether Criseyde fulfils the typical criteria of a romance heroine or not. To be able to discuss this issue, I am firstly going to provide a short definition of the attributes usually associated with a romance heroine. Secondly, I am going to analyze the presentation of Criseyde in Troilus and Criseyde, both in the physical and the psychological way. The main focus will be on her beauty and her virtue, with an intention to examine to what extent she acts according to the heroine's rules.