The Faerie Queene

We were asked to read the Fairy Queen in class. The story was about two knights one named Redcrosse, because of the red cross found on his shield, who represented purity because of the cross, red in some cases means purity, and he was searching for holiness. The other one was named Britomart. These two knights considered Holiness and Chasity as two virtues they were pursuing. Redcrosse is united with Una, which means one, who represents truth, Christian truth. Redcrosee was deceived by Duesa, which the root means, du, or two because she pretends to be someone she is not, dualism, dualitic personality. While searching for the dragon, as Spencer calls it, a many headed beast, and he separates himself from Una because he finds her in bed with another man. What he does not know is that the young man and Una are not who they appear to be. Deussa and another witch take form of these people. Redcrosse is very disappointed at that sight and he ventures off. He ends at the House of Pride with the seven deadly sins. He sees Duessa, disguised as Una, again and he welcomes her. When he is captured, Una, the real Una tries to find him. Una herself is captured by Sansloy, but she is protected by Satyrane, and when she breaks free she goes to the castle to rescue Redcrosse, who a dwarf finds him. The dwarf seems like the only one who seems to have good sense or be able to use his common sense. Throughout the play, Una searches to find Redcrosse but it is the dwarf that finally finds him. Una and Redcrosse relationship is of love and true friendship becuase they want to do whatever it takes to rescue the other, and forgive the other when they do something wrong.

I thought there was really good imagery in these cantos. Especially the image about Error, Error's head being cut off, and her many kids come out and they drink her blood. If that is not bad enough, her kids eat her blood and burst in thin air. How graphic, huh? Quite!!!