A story of a lost love; The Book of Duchess, Geoffrey Chaucer

 Why might you read The Book of Duchess?

The Book of Duchess is Chaucer's first poem as such it gives us insight into the early works of Chaucer. Chaucer is seen as the father of modern literature. While the Canterbury Tales are more famous going back to the start of a career has its advantages. As we move through his works we have the chance to see how he grows as a writer and how his approach changes over time. 

In my Self Education project, it would be remiss to miss out on Chaucer. Especially with how much his work informs later works.

The story of The Book of Duchess

The Poem starts with the narrator lamenting that he can't sleep. So he reads a book with the story of Ceyx and Alcyone. Where he dies at sea and she after looking for him prays to Juno. Juno then sends Morpheus to go and find him. He brings him back from his death at sea. His wife then gets to bury him.

The narrator then falls asleep. He dreams of a hunt and quickly follows it. Once out in the forest, he finds a black knight. The night is composing poetry to his love. The narrator tries to console him for he is distraught. In doing so he references Troy and other love stories of the greek world where the love is not returned. The knight tells him that these pale in comparison. He goes on to use an analogy of a chess match in which he loses his Queen. The narrator does not grasp that the knight's love is dead. The narrator proceeds to ask where his love is and the Knight answers plainly that she is dead. The narrator laments with him. The narrator then wakes.

Reflections on The Book of Duchess

Middle English is hard work. I found that by the end of reading it I had a grasp of the parts of the story but no idea how they fitted together. A little internet research fixed this but it is the first time I have had to have any kind of reading aid. In saying that this is the first non translated work so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

That the narrator references other classical sources is quite interesting. It made me glad I have read so much in my BC list so far. He uses both Greek and Biblical references. He does so in passing which means he must assume the reader knows these works.

The two parts of the poem are interesting because while they have a similar theme they do not have a lot else in common. They contrast each other in terms of simplicity. With the retold story being simple and the main story being rather complex.

What others have to say about The Book of Duchess

"composed c. 1370 CE in honor of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster (l. 1342-1368 CE), wife of John of Gaunt (l. 1340-1399 CE), Duke of Lancaster and Chaucer's best friend." From ancient.ed

"But it’s a dream after all, a sequence of allusions, and perhaps the real message lies in a series of hints that Chaucer drops" From eleusinianm

Comparisons with other texts

Like the Medieval Miracle Plays, the English is archaic. By contrast, though the plays use much simpler language. Some of this can be put down to the difference in style, being plays instead of poetry. Also, it can be put down to the audience, the plays are for the common people where as Chaucer is writing for Nobility.

The portrayal of the knight is quite different from what we see of our protagonists in the Volsung Saga. The knight is not heroic or dashing, doing great dead. Instead, he is retiring and feeling a great loss.

Conclusion

The play covers both the story of Ceyx and Alcyone and the lamenting of the black knight for his lost love. The archaic language it is written in is a challenge to read but still rewarding. Chaucer wrote it for a friend who was grieving a dead wife. It is the first of its kind I have read but it still has links to older texts. These links are seen both in the text as well as in the comparisons we have seen to texts that are in someways contemporary at least in my list.

Have you read The Book of Duchess? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Book of Duchess but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Book of Duchess.