The Legend of Good Women: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Legend of Good Women" is a work attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer that explores the complexities of love and fidelity through the lens of various legendary female figures. In this narrative, Chaucer, as a dreamer, is confronted by Cupid, who chastises him for his unfavorable portrayals of women in his writings. To seek redemption, Chaucer is prompted to compose a tale celebrating women who exemplify loyalty and virtue.
Key characters include Cleopatra, whose tragic devotion to Antony leads to her death; Dido, who succumbs to despair after Aeneas abandons her; and Lucretia, who chooses to end her life rather than live with the shame of her assault. Other notable figures include Hypsipyle and Medea, both of whom suffer betrayal by their partners, Jason and Creusa. Each character's story reflects themes of love, loyalty, and the consequences of betrayal, illustrating the varied experiences of women throughout history and mythology. The work invites readers to reflect on the broader implications of love and the societal expectations placed on women.
The Legend of Good Women: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
First published: 1380–1386
Genre: Poetry
Locale: Indeterminate
Plot: Mythic
Time: Indeterminate
Chaucer (CHAW-sur), a dreamer. In a vision, he is denounced by Cupid for heresy against the laws of love for writing and translating disparaging remarks about womankind.
Cupid, the god of love. In a dream, he accuses Chaucer, the dreamer, of heresy against love's laws.
Alceste (al-SEHST), the wife of Admetus and the companion of Cupid in Chaucer's dream. She suggests that Chaucer win Cupid's forgiveness by writing a legend of wives and maidens forever true in love.
Cleopatra (klee-oh-PA-truh), the queen of Egypt, whose love of Antony is so great that, on his death, she causes herself to be bitten by a poisonous serpent.
Antony, Cleopatra's beloved.
Thisbe (THIHZ-beh), the daughter of a lord of Babylon. She is loved by Pyramus, who, mistakenly thinking her dead, commits suicide. She finds his body and, in her grief, joins him in death.
Pyramus (PIHR-a-muhs), the son of a lord of Babylon and Thisbe's beloved.
Dido (DIH-doh), the queen of Carthage. According to Chaucer, Aeneas wins Dido's love, seduces her, and when he has grown weary of her, invents a vision that gives him an excuse to leave her. In her grief, she stabs herself.
Aeneas (ee-NEE-uhs), Dido's betrayer.
Hypsipyle (hihp-SIHP-ih-lee), the queen of Lemnos. She marries Jason and dies of a broken heart when he leaves her.
Medea (mee-DEE-uh), a princess of Colchis. She marries Jason, who leaves her for Creusa.
Jason, the betrayer of Hypsipyle and Medea.
Creusa (kreh-EW-suh), the daughter of Kreon, the king of Corinth, for whom Jason betrays Medea.
Lucretia (lew-KREE-shuh), the chaste, devoted wife of Colatyne (Collatinus). When she is ravished by Tarquinius (Tarquin), she takes her own life so that her husband will not have to bear the shame.
Colatyne (or Collatinus), Lucretia's husband.
Tarquinius (tahr-KWIHN-ee-uhs), also called Tarquin, Lucretia's ravisher.
Ariadne (ar-ee-AD-nee), the daughter of King Minos. Taken from Crete by Theseus, she is deserted on their way to Athens.
Theseus (THEE-see-uhs), a Prince of Athens, Ariadne's betrayer.
Philomela (fihl-oh-MEE-lah), a princess of Athens ravished by her brother-in-law, Tereus.
Tereus (TEE-ree-uhs), a lord of Thrace, Philomela's ravisher.
Progne (PROG-nee), Tereus' wife, Philomela's sister.
Phyllis, a Greek maiden betrayed by Demophon, who promises marriage and instead sails away.
Demophon (DEE-mo-fon), Theseus' son, Phyllis' betrayer.
Ypermistra or Hypermnestra (hi-purm-NEHS-truh), one of the fifty daughters of Danao (Danaus), the king of Egypt. She is urged by her father to kill her bridegroom, Lino, but, out of pity, she cannot and warns him to escape. He does so, leaving her to her fate.
Lino, Ypermistra's bridegroom.
Danao, Ypermistra's father.