Canto IV explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Magic and the Supernatural

  Atlantes' enchanted castle, the hippogryph, and the magical ring are central to the chapter's events.

• Gender and Power

  Rinaldo critiques the unjust Scottish law that punishes women for adultery while men go free, highlighting gender inequality.

• Betrayal and Deception

  Bradamant feigns trust in Brunello while using the ring to deceive him; Atlantes' deceptive magic is also featured.

Characters to notice

• Bradamant

  Uses the ring to deceive Brunello, confronts Atlantes, and frees Rogero and other captives.

• Rogero

  Freed from Atlantes' castle by Bradamant, then mounts the hippogryph and flies away.

• Atlantes

  The enchanter whose castle is destroyed; he attempts to keep Rogero confined but is foiled by Bradamant.

• Rinaldo

  Disembarks in Scotland, learns of Geneura's situation, and vows to champion her cause against the unjust law.

• Brunello

  The dwarfish Moor who serves as Bradamant's guide, though she distrusts him.

• Geneura

  The Scottish princess condemned to death under a harsh law; Rinaldo decides to defend her.

Key passages

• “The old Atlantes suffers fatal wreck, Foiled by the ring, and young Rogero freed, Who soars in air till he appears a speck, Mounted upon the wizard’s winged steed.”

  Atlantes is defeated by the magical ring, Rogero is liberated, and he flies away on the hippogryph until he is just a dot in the sky.

  Summarizes the key magical events of the chapter.

• “Cursed be the law by which the dame is tried! Cursed he who would permit a doom so dire!”

  Rinaldo condemns the harsh Scottish law that condemns women to death for adultery, calling it cursed.

  Highlights Rinaldo's critique of gender-based injustice.