Canto V explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Virtue and Vice

  Redcrosse Knight fights for right against Sansjoy's wrong; the dungeon of Pride illustrates the downfall of the proud.

• Truth and Deception

  Duessa's false appearance and her revelation as daughter of Deceit and Shame highlight the theme of deception.

• Religion and Morality

  The Redcrosse Knight's quest is framed as a moral and spiritual battle; the descent to Hell involves pagan and Christian imagery.

Characters to notice

• Redcrosse Knight

  Defeats Sansjoy in combat, then flees the palace of Pride after learning of its dungeon.

• Duessa

  Saves Sansjoy by taking him to Hell for healing; reveals herself as daughter of Deceit and Shame.

• Sansjoy

  Defeated by Redcrosse Knight, then taken by Duessa to Hell for healing.

• Sansfoy

  Already dead; his shield is hung as a trophy at the tournament.

• Night

  Ancient grandmother of all, mother of Deceit; helps Duessa by taking Sansjoy to Hell for healing.

• Aeolus

  Not directly present, but referenced in the context of the tournament's minstrelsy.

Key passages

• “The noble hart that harbours vertuous thought, And is with childe of glorious great intent, Can never rest, untill it forth have brought Th’eternall brood of glorie excellent”

  A noble heart filled with virtuous ambition cannot rest until it achieves glorious deeds.

  Describes the Redcrosse Knight's restless drive for honor.

• “So th’one for wrong, the other strives for right.”

  One fights for an unjust cause, the other for a just one.

  Contrasts Sansjoy's wrongful aggression with the Redcrosse Knight's righteous cause.

• “I, that do seeme not I, Duessa ame, ... Duessa I, the daughter of Deceipt and Shame.”

  I am Duessa, though I appear otherwise; I am the child of Deceit and Shame.

  Duessa reveals her true identity to Night.