"Worldes Faierie": The Narrative Controversies over Constance in "Confessio Amantis."
- Author/Editor
- Wu, Xiaoling.
- Title
- "Worldes Faierie": The Narrative Controversies over Constance in "Confessio Amantis."
- Published
- Wu, Xiaoling. "'Worldes Faierie': The Narrative Controversies over Constance in 'Confessio Amantis.'" ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 37.4 (2024): 510–18.
- Review
- This concise essay argues that Gower's version of the Constance story (CA 2.587–1598) "contains a covert progression of the controversies concerning Constance's marital relationship with King Allee" (510). The first controversy identified is Constance's legitimacy to be Allee's queen. Wu suggests that in Gower's version of the tale--more so than in Chaucer's or Trevet's--Allee's support of Constance as an appropriate choice for the monarchy "portrays Britain as a tolerant and inclusive nation by creating a resolute, far-sighted, and fortunate king" (512). The second controversy focuses upon Constance's loyalty to Allee, or the narrative ambiguity surrounding her loyalty. Constance's journeys become replete with opportunity for infidelity, and, as Wu suggests, not all of these moments are explicitly refuted, such as the years Constance spends with Arcennus. Again, Wu proposes, the focus turns to Allee's morality as he recognizes his own role in propelling Constance towards those possible infidelities. And finally, the third controversy is characterized by Constance's "political impact" (514), the possible renegotiation of political alliances and alteration of national sovereignty. This controversy is assuaged by Allee's deft political maneuverings and the results in the production of an heir, Maurice, suggesting "an optimistic view of the political marriage as a lucrative political scheme planned by King Allee himself" (515). Ultimately, for Wu, "Gower's poetics in this tale features a romantic and empathetic image of the king, which is associated with the contemporary discourses around King Richard II" (515). [BWG. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 44.1]
- Date
- 2024
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis
Sources, Analogues, and Literary Relations