Knight's Tale: How Does it Illustrate the

¶ … Knight's Tale:" How does it illustrate the principles of chivalry? "The Knight's Tale" is meant to illustrate the medieval ideals of chivalry to the knight's listening audience of fellow pilgrims. In this story of courtly love, two men named Palamon and Arcite are in love with the same woman, Emelye. The two men are great warriors, both imprisoned in a tower after being on the losing side of the conflict between Thebes and Athens. The fact that King Theseus does not kill them shows his noble chivalry.

Later, Theseus frees Arcite, on the condition that Arcite leaves Athens forever. Although Palamon is still in prison, he at least can see Emelye every day, as she is Theseus' sister-in-law. Both knights are miserable at this state of affairs -- Arcite for the loss of his beloved and Palamon for the loss of his freedom. Arcite is so desperate he disguises himself as a commoner, so he can still serve his beloved lady as her page.

Eventually, Palamon escapes and when the two men come upon one another, they nearly kill one another in a fury of love. Theseus stops them. He considers killing them both, but instead pits the two rivals against one another in an epic duel. Up to this point, neither Arcite nor Palamon has done anything particularly heroic, despite the Knight's presentation of both men as a paragon of courtly values. They are both losers in the war against Athens, unable to subdue their foe in battle.

They do not uphold the value of truth: Arcite returns to the kingdom after Theseus generously frees him and Palamon engages in deceit and escapes, even though he can hardly be blamed for doing so. Neither honorably acknowledges the debt they owe to Theseus for sparing their lives and they behave dishonorably to one another, because of their love for the same woman when they engage in a struggle.

Their actions towards one another, despite their mutual suffering in battle do not show generosity (the willingness to give up something for another) or courtesy in their brutality. Even their ability to find glory is thwarted by their fixation upon one woman. However, by the end of the story, the knights manage to redeem themselves. Arcite shows valor in besting Palamon.

However, thanks to the will of the gods, Arcite is thrown from his horse after an earthquake, his chest is crushed, and his dying words are to tell Emelye to marry Palamon, given how Palamon has proven himself worthy of her through his valor, even though Palamon technically lost the battle. After a long period of the time, the two marry. The causation of this happy union, however, is less the excellence of either man in battle but rather the capricious will of the gods who favor Palamon.

Additionally, love, rather than elevating the men to do.