Code of Courtly Love

¶ … Troilus and Criseyde, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Specifically, it will explain the code of Courtly Love as evident in the epic poem.

Trolius and Criseyde

The code of Courtly Love is a major theme in Chaucer's "Trolius and Criseyde" because it was of major importance during Chaucer's time. He writes about it extensively in the Knight's Tale in "The Canterbury Tales," and here in this epic poem. Trolius is a courtly warrior, who exemplifies the items that made a successful knight in Chaucer's time. He is brave in battle and unafraid to kill another, but he is kind and loving, and had a deep and abiding love for Criseyde. These two attributes do not seem to blend together, but they were two of the most important attributes of the knight who exemplified courtly love. Almost two different men, the knight could charge off to fight his mortal enemy with every means of violence available to him, but he could leave that all behind when he returned to his castle and his love. Courtly love required chivalrous and regal behavior to each other one on one, and that did continue on to the battlefield. Captured enemies were shown respect and courtesy, even if they were ultimately killed, and those in the court itself were expected to treat each other with respect and courtesy. It was no sign of weakness to pine over and long for a beautiful woman, in fact, it was a sign of true masculinity to love, and Trolius loved Criseyde. However, to reject that love, as Criseyde did, was one of the worst things imaginable in courtly love, and so, she rejected Trolius and broke his heart. This view of love was highly romanticized, and Chaucer was a master at it. His epic poem could be a model for a modern romance novel, and the importance of courtly love during this time is evident in just about every line of the poem.