An Offering of Friendship in Books I and II of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Troilus and Criseyde is a poem from the renowned English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. This long verse was written by Chaucer likely in the mid 1380s, using the style he developed of rhyme royale. The many stanzas are formed in seven lines of iambic pentameter and the genre of the poem is arguably one of courtly love. However, this long poem offers more themes than just romance. One such theme is that of friendship, which has been described by Alan T. Gaylord in his essay Friendship in Chaucer's Troilus: "there are many scenes in the Troilus which...are directly related to the forms of courtly friendship" (Gaylord 239). In the essay, Gaylord states that the motivation for many of characters can be explained as either that of camaraderie or seeking love through friendship. The times of Middle England required strong alliances, friendships, and romantic connections for survival, and not just for fulfillment. This theme of friendship is what motivates the actions of the central characters Pandarus, Criseyde and to a lesser extent Troilus in Chaucer's most famous work.

Criseyde's central desire is friendship after the loss of her husband: "for bothe a widewe was she and alone/ of any friend to whom she dorste hir mone" (I 97-98). Loneliness is not only Criseyde's experience. Pandarus reminds the Trojan prince Troilus of the importance of friendship: "ne do thow nevere swich a crueltee/ to hidden fro thi friend so great a care!" (I 586-587). Pandarus also reminds Troilus to approach Criseyde through: "hire love of frienshipe" (II 962). Initially offering friendship is a strategy to win the heart of another in the game of courtly love. Each of these examples offers an introduction on the theme of friendship in Troilus and Criseyde.

The setting within the poem is the Trojan - Greek war of twelfth century BC. Here, a newly widowed Criseyde is now politically vulnerable and seeking support, after the death of her husband. Troilus seeks Criseyde as someone to end his own misery: "hath gided the to sen me langwisshnge,/ that am refus of every creature?" (I 569-570). Pandarus, the uncle of Criseyde, steps in and offers to be a go-between for Troilus and Criseyde. Pandarus is a true friend to Troilus: "wherefore I am, and wol ben, ay redy/ to peyne me to do yow this servyse" (I 988-990). Pandarus' genuine altruistic action ends both characters' loneliness, with no expectation of reciprocity. This is an example of courtly friendship bringing characters together for mutual benefit.

Gaylord also observes Pandarus' position as a friend and as a facilitator of romance: "Pandarus, in his role as...go-between is...turning substance into accident [through friendship]" (255). The initial meeting between Tristan and Criseyde is set up as an introduction between two friends. Friendship is used as a strategy to form unions amongst those of the court: "hire love of friendshipe have I to the wonne/ and also hath she leyd hire feyth to borwe" (II 962-963). Troilus has desires and experiences loneliness also: "allas, of al my wo the welle,/ thane is my swete fo called Criseyde!" (I 873-874). Troilus approaches Criseyde first as a friend and secondly as a lover. So, budding romantics could take note of the many benefits of friendship in Troilus and Criseyde. Benefits include the attainment of desire, good counsel, and transforming loneliness into companionship.

In Books I and II of Troilus and Criseyde, friendship is the motivation of both Pandarus and Criseyde. Troilus is shown the positive aspects of friendship, but is more focused on finding a quick fix for his loneliness and misery than he is selfless companionship. In Troilus and Criseyde, a greater importance is placed on friendship in relationships than on love.

Works Consulted

Durham, Lonnie J. "Love and Death in "Troilus and Criseyde"." The Chaucer Review 3.1

(1968): 1-11. Print.

Gaylord, Alan T. "Friendship in Chaucer's "Troilus"." The Chaucer Review 3.4 (1969):

239-64. Print.

Thompson, Ann. "'Troilus and Criseyde' and 'Romeo and Juliet'." The Yearbook of

English Studies 6 (1976): 26-37. Print.