# The Knight's Tale explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

Theseus proposes a tournament to settle the love rivalry between Palamon and Arcite for Emily, with each to bring a hundred knights to fight; he builds a grand theatre with temples to Venus, Mars, and Diana. The cousins argue over who loved Emily first, and after Perithous secures Arcite's release from prison on condition of exile, both lament their fates—Arcite for losing sight of Emily, Palamon for remaining imprisoned.

## Themes in this chapter

### Chivalry and True Gentility

The tournament is framed as a chivalric contest, with knights bound by oaths and honor, yet the cousins' rivalry exposes the tension between knightly vows and personal desire.

### Fortune and Providence

Arcite and Palamon debate the role of fortune and divine providence in their fates, with Arcite lamenting the unpredictability of fortune and Palamon questioning the justice of the gods.

### Gender and Power

Emily is treated as a prize to be won through male combat, reflecting the limited agency of women in medieval society.

## Character check-ins

### Theseus

Proposes the tournament and builds the grand theatre with temples to Venus, Mars, and Diana.

### Palamon

Argues he loved Emily first and laments his imprisonment while Arcite is free.

### Arcite

Argues he loved Emily first, is released from prison by Theseus at Perithous' request, and laments his exile.

### Emily

The object of the cousins' love, to be awarded as prize to the tournament victor.

### Perithous

Secures Arcite's release from prison through his friendship with Theseus.

## Key lines

> My will is this, for plain conclusión Withouten any replicatión, If that you liketh, take it for the best, That evereach of you shall go where him lest, Freely withoutë ransom or dangér; And this day fifty weekës, farre ne nerre, Evereach of you shall bring an hundred knights, Armed for listës up at allë rights All ready to darraine her by bataille...

Theseus declares his final decision: each knight may go free without ransom, but in exactly fifty weeks they must each return with a hundred knights to fight in a tournament for Emily's hand.

_Theseus establishes the terms of the chivalric contest._

> Love is a greater lawë, by my pan, Than may be giv'n to any earthly man: Therefore positive law, and such decree, Is broke alway for love in each degree.

Arcite argues that love is a higher law than any human decree, and thus justifies breaking oaths made to Palamon.

_Arcite defends his betrayal of their pact using the medieval concept of love's supremacy._

> Alas, why plainen men so in commúne Of purveyance of God, or of Fortúne, That giveth them full oft in many a guise Well better than they can themselves devise?

Arcite laments that people complain about divine providence or fortune, which often gives them better outcomes than they could plan themselves.

_Arcite reflects on the unpredictability of fortune and human ignorance of what is truly beneficial._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-knight-s-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters