Parlement of Foules: Analysis of Major Characters
"Parlement of Foules" is a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer that explores themes of love and choice through a vivid dream narrative. The dreamer finds himself in a lush Garden of Love where various birds convene to debate matters of courtship and mating, guided by the goddess Nature. Central to the poem are three tercel eagles, each vying for the affection of a lady eagle, who is portrayed as intelligent and discerning, seeking time to consider her options. The royal eagle symbolizes King Richard II, while his rivals represent Frederick Meissen and Prince Charles of France, highlighting the poem's political undertones.
The poem features a range of bird characters, including the Falcon, who voices aristocratic views on love, and the Turtledove, representing the country gentry's perspective on enduring affection. Contrasting these, the Duck and Goose offer more pragmatic views on love, with the Goose advocating for mutual affection as essential for a successful relationship. Chaucer's work is enriched by the diversity of perspectives represented among the birds, encouraging readers to reflect on the complexities of romantic relationships. Through its allegorical structure, "Parlement of Foules" serves as a commentary on societal norms surrounding love and partnership during Chaucer's time.
Parlement of Foules: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
First published: c. 1380
Genre: Poetry
Locale: A dream world
Plot: Allegory
Time: Fourteenth century
The dreamer, the narrator of the poem. After musing on love, he falls asleep and dreams that he is escorted to the Garden of Love, where the birds' parliament has convened. The dreamer enters a park filled with trees and teeming with a plethora of chirping birds. The trees are in foliage and the flowers in bloom, as it is spring. Various gods and goddesses recline in a temple of brass.
Nature, a goddess who sits on a hill of flowers, presiding over the parliament. An elegant, well-spoken lady, she stands for natural law, including mating and procreation, in distinction from Venus, who represents passion for its own sake.
Three tercel eagles, suitors vying to take a tercelet as mate. The royal eagle claims that he will make the best mate for the tercelet, as his love for her is greater than that of his rivals. The second tercel, however, argues that the “lady” should be his, because he has loved her longer. The third tercel promises to love the tercelet until the time of his own death; therefore, he maintains, the prize belongs to him. The royal eagle is said to represent King Richard II of England, whereas the other two represent Frederick Meissen and Prince Charles of France, rival contenders for the hand of Anne of Bohemia.
An eagle tercelet, the object of the tercels' contest. Although she is a dainty creature perching on Nature's shoulder, the tercelet is intelligent and foresighted. Because she cannot decide immediately among the tercels, she wisely asks Nature to grant her a year in which to weigh her suitors' claims, rather than hastily leaping into an alliance she may regret.
Falcon, the spokesperson for the “noble” birds, who voices the conventional views of the aristocracy concerning one's choice of a mate.
Turtledove, a spokesperson for the country gentry, a wealthy but nonaristocratic class. A symbol of peace, charity, and un-dying love, she says that a man should love his lady for the duration of his life, even if she dies or the two become estranged. In making this claim, she adheres to one of the principals of the courtly love mystique.
Duck, who is either a vulgar commoner or a liberal aristocrat. He stirs up indignation among the “noble” birds by countering the dove's claim and pointing out the absurdity of this courtly “mandate.”
Goose, a spokesperson for the waterfowl, which represents either the merchant class or the lowest commoners. A practical bird who speaks her mind, she advances the somewhat novel stipulation that a man should love only a woman who loves him in return. This fowl may function as the poet's mouthpiece for his attitude toward women. Geoffrey Chaucer has been said to have had an androgynous personality, meaning that he could see a situation from either a masculine or a feminine point of view. Through the goose, he may be saying that in order for a romantic liaison to succeed, the woman must be an ardent partner in love rather than the mere object of a man's affection.