The Knight's Tale [Pt. 1-2]

When my eyes caught the name "Theseus", I was able to connect him with "Minotaurus", a monster that was killed by him. Although the plot of The Knight's Tale seems to be an event that was held after killing Minotaurus, I was surprised  with the fact that there was another tale about him in depth, just like this one. Also, it took me quite a while to read, because I read both the old English version and the current English version simultaneously to get a sense of what it's like to be reading in old English. Anyhow, here is the brief summary of The Kinght's Tale Part 1 & 2.

*****

Theseus, a hero in Athens was on his way home after conquering the Amazons. He had gained victories, honor, and goods and was happily returning to his homeland when he found 4 women crying on the way. The women explained that they had lost their husbands to a king called Creon of Thebes, and he dishonored the bodies by throwing them to wild hounds. Theseus was enraged, and turned his way toward Thebes to destroy it. He took the city easily, massacred everybody, except two severely wounded knights, Arcite and Palamon. Theseus healed the knights, but in the end threw them into jail.

After many years have passed, Palamon spotted a beautiful woman, Emelye, while peaking out the tower window. He fell in love with the woman instantly, and woke his cousin Arcite to have a look. Arcite, after seeing the woman, also fell in love with the woman. They tried to make a plan for an escape, yet there didn't seem to be a good solution. One day, a friend of Arcite visited Athens--and it turned out that the vistor was also a friend of Theseus. Due to this relationship, Arcite was released but was exiled.

Some time later, Mercury appeared in Arcite's dream and ordered him to go back to Athens. Arcite disguised himself and work as a page for Athens in order to have Emelye in his sight. By a mere coincidence, Arcite confronted Palamon in the woods, who had escaped from the tower the very exact day Arcite had been realeased. They started to fight over Emelye, but unfortunately were spotted by Theseus. Instead of killing both of them on the spot, Theseus decided to give them a chance to have a dual, so the winner can marry Emelye.

*****

Although the tale on the surface seemed serious, I found it a little funny for the following reasons: 1. Spotting a woman by peaking out of the tower and falling in love instantly with the woman  is unlikely to happen. 2. Theseus is enraged by a story told by 4 widows, which could have been false. 3. The story of how Palamon escaped from a well-secured tower is not mentioned. Despite these unrealistic factors, I tried my best to ignore them because it is a "tale."

I have been in love before, therefore I can at least feel some sympathy for Arcite and Palamon. Notwithstanding, their actions are uncomprehensible in my perspective, because not only I have never been in love to an insane extent, but putting their lives at stake for a total stranger felt almost stupid to me.

Here are some of the quotations that prove their passionate love toward Emelye:

"Increase doubly the strong pains Both of the lover and the prisoner. (1339)" I was able to feel to the core their passionate love toward the woman.

"Thou mayest have her as lady and as wife" -- this line creeped me out because Arcite and Palamon was planning to marry Emelye, whom they do not know as a person.