# Canto V explained — The Faerie Queene

> Chapter companion for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

## What happens

The Redcrosse Knight defeats Sansjoy in a tournament, but Duessa saves Sansjoy by taking him to Hell for healing. The knight then discovers a dungeon of prideful sinners and flees the palace of Pride.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters