A Knight Through His Tale

In the end of the first part of The Knights Tale, the reader receives a rhetorical question. It asks the reader who has the worst situation, Arcite or Palamon. Because one describes the other’s situation, they cannot be judged objectively. Instead, we receive a description of their envy for the other and hate for their own problems. In this way both found happiness but are unable to see it. The possibilities of their blessed state exist only in what they can do in their current position which is described here:

1349 That oon may seen his lady day by day,
1350 But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
1351 That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
1352 But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
1353 Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
1354 For I wol telle forth as I bigan.

The situation entraps both men making it impossible for either to find an exit without great risks. Still, both can hope to find their beloved if they see the advantages of their current position and use them correctly. Unfortunately, both characters sulk in their superficial misfortune instead of trying to solve the problem before them. Thus, the situation doesn’t restrain them from obtaining their happiness but own mental state does.

This part of the Knight’s tale reflects some of his morals and way of thinking. How both characters eventually persevered in order to achieve at least part of their goal shows this. With this story the Knight tells us about his own way of thinking and how, like the heroic knight of many stories, he eventually fights his way through difficulties in order to reach his goal. Evidently, he also says that his wisdom allows him to see the solutions to a problem since he tries to teach us this lesson through his tale. Still, he achieved the opposite. Instead of portraying his wisdom, his tale revealed his shallowness. His attempt to teach such a superficial and well known moral shows that his knowledge doesn’t extend very far. Also, his talk of Athens as if it were a medieval place proves this. One can say then, that the Knight tried to impress us with his knowledge and wisdom by means of his tale but fails to do so. Instead, he uncovers his own ignorance and superficiality.