From “mayd Martiall” to Maid “myld”: Britomart, Chastity, and Dynasty in Spenser's The Faerie Queene
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This paper analyzes how the repeated unveilings of Britomart’s disguise represent the conflict between religious principles of chastity and dynastic necessity of fertility in Books 3 and 4 of The Faerie Queene. The three moments when Britomart’s disguise as a knight fails to conceal her gender emphasize her eventual loss of control over her representation. These repeated unveilings make her martial skills less impressive and illustrates how Britomart is not fully in control of her self-representation as the Knight of Chastity. The pivotal unveiling of Britomart’s female identity during her encounter with Arthegall results in a shift from “mayd Martiall” to maid “myld.” This critical revelation after her combat with Arthegall results in reinforcing her loss of subjectivity as chastity and chivalry are replaced with her transition towards founding a new dynasty with Arthegall.
Abstract
This paper analyzes how the repeated unveilings of Britomart’s disguise represent the conflict between religious principles of chastity and dynastic necessity of fertility in Books 3 and 4 of The Faerie Queene. The three moments when Britomart’s disguise as a knight fails to conceal her gender emphasize her eventual loss of control over her representation. These repeated unveilings make her martial skills less impressive and illustrates how Britomart is not fully in control of her self-representation as the Knight of Chastity. The pivotal unveiling of Britomart’s female identity during her encounter with Arthegall results in a shift from “mayd Martiall” to maid “myld.” This critical revelation after her combat with Arthegall results in reinforcing her loss of subjectivity as chastity and chivalry are replaced with her transition towards founding a new dynasty with Arthegall.
참고문헌 (11)
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