The Faerie Queene · Chapter
Canto VIII explained
Prince Arthur, guided by Una, arrives at the castle of the giant Orgoglio.
What happens
Prince Arthur, guided by Una, arrives at the castle of the giant Orgoglio. He blows a magical horn that forces the gates open, then engages Orgoglio in combat. Arthur cuts off the giant's left arm and later his right leg, causing him to fall and vanish. Duessa attempts to flee but is captured by Arthur's squire. Una thanks Arthur and begs him to rescue the Redcrosse Knight. Arthur enters the castle, encounters the ignorant porter Ignaro, and eventually finds the Redcrosse Knight imprisoned in a dark dungeon, emaciated and near death.
Themes in this chapter
Virtue and Vice
Arthur's virtuous rescue contrasts with Orgoglio's tyrannical pride and Duessa's deceit, highlighting the battle between good and evil.
Allegory and Symbolism
The magical horn, the giant's fall, and the dungeon symbolize divine grace, the overthrow of sin, and the soul's captivity.
Chivalry and Knighthood
Arthur exemplifies knightly valor and mercy, while the Redcrosse Knight's rescue underscores the chivalric duty to aid the oppressed.
Characters to notice
- Prince Arthur
Arrives with Una to rescue the Redcrosse Knight; blows the magical horn, fights and kills Orgoglio, captures Duessa, and finds the imprisoned knight.
- Una
Guides Prince Arthur to Orgoglio's castle, witnesses the battle, and pleads for the rescue of the Redcrosse Knight.
- Redcrosse Knight
Found imprisoned in a dark dungeon by Arthur, emaciated and weakened after three months of captivity.
- Duessa
Rides her many-headed beast alongside Orgoglio; after the giant's defeat, she flees but is captured by Arthur's squire.
- Orgoglio
The giant who imprisoned the Redcrosse Knight; fights Arthur, loses his left arm and right leg, then vanishes upon death.
- Ignaro
The ancient, blind porter of the castle who answers every question with 'he could not tell'; Arthur takes his keys to open the doors.
Key passages
“Ay me! how many perils doe enfold The righteous man, to make him daily fall, Were not that heavenly grace doth him uphold, And stedfast truth acquite him out of all.”
Alas, how many dangers surround the righteous person, causing him to stumble daily, if not for divine grace that supports him and unwavering truth that rescues him from every trouble.
Opening stanza reflecting on the need for grace and truth to protect the righteous.
“Was never wight that heard that shrilling sownd, But trembling feare did feel in every vaine: Three miles it might be easy heard arownd, And Ecchoes three aunswer'd it selfe againe: No false enchauntment, nor deceiptfull traine, Might once abide the terror of that blast, But presently was void and wholly vaine: No gate so strong, no locke so firme and fast, But with that percing noise flew open quite, or brast.”
No one who heard that piercing sound could avoid trembling with fear; it could be heard three miles around, and three echoes answered it. No enchantment or deception could withstand its terror, and no gate or lock was so strong that it did not fly open or burst.
Description of the magical horn's power, which forces Orgoglio's castle gates open.
“O! who is that, which bringes me happy choyce Of death, that here lye dying every stound, Yet live perforce in balefull darkenesse bound? For now three Moones have changed thrice their hew, And have been thrice hid underneath the ground, Since I the heavens chearefull face did vew. O! welcome thou, that doest of death bring tydings trew.”
Oh, who is it that offers me the happy choice of death? I lie here dying every moment, yet am forced to live in miserable darkness. Three moons have changed and hidden themselves since I last saw the cheerful sky. Welcome, you who bring true news of death.
The Redcrosse Knight's lament from the dungeon, expressing his suffering and longing for death.
