Introduction:
An allegory is a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms. It is a device in which characters or events represent or symbolize ideas and concepts. Edmund spenser‘s(1552-1599) supreme masterpiece The Faerie Queene is an allegorical romance. By this allegorical romance Spenser reached the highest pinnacle of his art.
In the ‘Fairie Queene’ there is a fusion of three kinds of allegories.
1. A moral or spiritual allegory dealing with the action and interaction of virtue and vice.
2. A religious allegory dealing with the important religious events of the age.
3. Historical allegory.
Allegory in Characters:
All the characters in The Faerie Queene have allegorical significance since they represent abstract ideas. The title character, the Fairy Queen (Gloriana) herself, is meant to represent Queen Elizabeth. The Red Cross knight who is appointed by the Fairy Queen to assist Lady Una in releasing her parents from the prison of Dragon is the embodiment of Holiness, piety, and true religion (Protestantism). Lady Una stands for truth, goodness and wisdom. Her parents symbolize humanity held by Evil represented by the foul Dragon.
More Notes: The Faerie Queene
Moral and Spiritual Allegory:
The stages of Red Cross Knight’s journey in Spenser’s The Faeire Queene allegorically reflect the stages that any of us might encounter as we take our moral journey through life. In The Faerie Queene,the good characters of the book stand for the various virtues, while the bad characters symbolize the corresponding vices. The Red Cross Knight represents Holiness and Lady Una stands for Truth,Goodness and Wisdom. Her parents symbolize the Human race and the Dragon who has imprisoned them stands for Evil. The mission of Holiness (Red Cross Knight) is to help Truth (Lady Una) to fight Evil (Dragon) and thus regain its rightful place in the human heart.
In the course of its mission, Holiness has to meet many adventures and fight many evils. First of all, it has to encounter a terrible monster which is Error. As long as Holiness is helped by Truth, it can defeat any of the forces of Evil. Archimago, the symbol of Hypocrisy succeeds in separating Holiness (Red Cross Knight) from Truth (Lady Una). The Red Cross Knight takes Duessa representing Falsehood to be his lady love and Lady Una wanders forlorn in search of her champion. Holiness, when separated from Truth, becomes too weak to resist Falsehood. Thus the Red Cross Knight is now guided by Duessa (Falsehood) and is like a puppet in her hands.
Religious Allegory:
This moral and spiritual allegory mingles with the religious allegory of the book. The different characters also stand for various religious events and dignitaries of age. The reformation was the most important religious movement of the time. In this epic Spenser has represented it allegorically. He is all for the Reformed Church of England which is the only true church for him and against Papacy and Catholic Church. The Red Cross Knight, for example, represents the Manhood of England or the Reformed Church fighting against the corruption.
The parents of Una symbolize Humanity and the foul Dragon who has captured them, stands for Pope of Rome. Archimago is a representation of the falseness and deceit in the Catholic Church. Archimago’s division of truth from holiness symbolizes the threat of the hypocrisy and plots of the Roman Catholic Church against the English Church. Spenser uses Archimago and his illusions as a stumbling block in Red Crosse’s quest for his religious identity.
Political Allegory:
The third and final allegory that is present in The Faerie Queene is the political allegory. Spenser’s political allegory shows the hypocrisy and illusions used by the Catholic Church to cause disorder and uncertainty. Archimago’s political allegory shows the intense historical referencing throughout The Faerie Queene.
Conclusion:
In finally we can say that Spenser’s use of moral, religious and political allegory clearly shows how he feels about Pope Clement and the Catholic Church. He brings to light the hypocrisy and illusions used by the Catholic Church to help the government manipulate their lives as well as the lives of the people of England.
