This is a great post Jay. For me personally, I believe Arveragus sacrificed the most. Dorigen, though she didn't intend to, did wager her marriage in a sense. But putting even that aside, Arveragus comes back from battle to this news. Instead of reprimanding her, he consoles her. Instead of worrying about his own honor and even their marriage's sacrament, he puts her own honor first by asking her to make good on her word. There is a way in which Arveragus feels, to me, as if he would rather lose all that he has as long as Dorigen is saved morally; and there's a lot of weight to that.
I think it is very interesting that the Franklin poses this question at the end of the tale, especially considering that in many of the other tales, the answer would be largely male. I really like your reading of Dorigen as having the most power/freedom in this situation, as she certainly has a more noble kind of freedom than many of our other women, like Alisoun or May. I do, however, think that the two men of the tale do ultimately have more freedom and power than her, as they are the ones who still seem largely in power of her fate. She is a large improvement from most of the other women we have seen so far in the tales, and I appreciate that she is even in the discussion!
I like your breakdown of each character's position! I agree with you that Dorigen is very noble. I do wonder, though, if she had as much freedom of choice as Arveragus and Aurelius. She is completely honest with both, yes- and that is a huge improvement on many of the wives we've seen, who either withheld their open communication from their husbands because of subservience or a secret lover. But even in the Franklin's Tale, it feels to me like the two men have a response to what she discloses, but not the other way around. It still feels like she is at the mercy of their responses, even though she has behaved as honorably as she knew how. She acts with the most pure intent in my opinion as well. But that still doesn't equal for her the highest level of "free"dom (and I'm loving Chaucer's use of "free" for noble/generous - the wordplay is too good!)
I echo forever's comment, both as to your ranking and the portrayal of an actually happily married couple. How refreshing to finally see an example of marriage that doesn't make marriage seem like a completely horrible thing! While I respect your ranking and rational as to why Dorigen is the most noble, I would have to argue that in fact Arveragus is the most noble. He is the only one objectively to commit no wrong in this tale, especially if you follow the rational that for Dorigen to break her word would be a morally wrong decision.
I think that ranking is solid! I did really enjoy the concept of a married couple actually feeling and acting like, well, a married couple. The act of honoring one's word over their own feelings is one thing, but actually committing to following through and making a great personal sacrifice is another thing entirely.
This is a great post Jay. For me personally, I believe Arveragus sacrificed the most. Dorigen, though she didn't intend to, did wager her marriage in a sense. But putting even that aside, Arveragus comes back from battle to this news. Instead of reprimanding her, he consoles her. Instead of worrying about his own honor and even their marriage's sacrament, he puts her own honor first by asking her to make good on her word. There is a way in which Arveragus feels, to me, as if he would rather lose all that he has as long as Dorigen is saved morally; and there's a lot of weight to that.
Thank you again for this read.
I think it is very interesting that the Franklin poses this question at the end of the tale, especially considering that in many of the other tales, the answer would be largely male. I really like your reading of Dorigen as having the most power/freedom in this situation, as she certainly has a more noble kind of freedom than many of our other women, like Alisoun or May. I do, however, think that the two men of the tale do ultimately have more freedom and power than her, as they are the ones who still seem largely in power of her fate. She is a large improvement from most of the other women we have seen so far in the tales, and I appreciate that she is even in the discussion!
I like your breakdown of each character's position! I agree with you that Dorigen is very noble. I do wonder, though, if she had as much freedom of choice as Arveragus and Aurelius. She is completely honest with both, yes- and that is a huge improvement on many of the wives we've seen, who either withheld their open communication from their husbands because of subservience or a secret lover. But even in the Franklin's Tale, it feels to me like the two men have a response to what she discloses, but not the other way around. It still feels like she is at the mercy of their responses, even though she has behaved as honorably as she knew how. She acts with the most pure intent in my opinion as well. But that still doesn't equal for her the highest level of "free"dom (and I'm loving Chaucer's use of "free" for noble/generous - the wordplay is too good!)
I echo forever's comment, both as to your ranking and the portrayal of an actually happily married couple. How refreshing to finally see an example of marriage that doesn't make marriage seem like a completely horrible thing! While I respect your ranking and rational as to why Dorigen is the most noble, I would have to argue that in fact Arveragus is the most noble. He is the only one objectively to commit no wrong in this tale, especially if you follow the rational that for Dorigen to break her word would be a morally wrong decision.
I think that ranking is solid! I did really enjoy the concept of a married couple actually feeling and acting like, well, a married couple. The act of honoring one's word over their own feelings is one thing, but actually committing to following through and making a great personal sacrifice is another thing entirely.