The Character of Emelye in Chaucer, Beaumont and Fletcher, and Dryden

Abstract

Although the later attempts to delineate the character of Emelye were also efforts to improve on the original as depicted in Chaucer both attempts were failures in that respect. Chaucer gives us a beautiful outline of womanly perfection. With the facts as given in the Knightes Tale we have sufficiently concrete material for our imagination to play upon and complete the portrait. The later writers, in their effort to give us more particulars in her character, have somewhat spoiled the perfection we would naturally imagine from Chaucer's work. If any fault be found with the lack of detail in Chaucer's description of Emelye we can retort that he leaves no blemish on her character, and we can imagine only the best. [From concluding section]