크리세이드의 세계: 역사와 로맨스, 그리고 여성

Abstract

History and romance coexist in Geoffrey Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde. The story is centered on courtly love, but the Trojan War impinges on the couples love affair. Troilus, unable to cope with Criseydes departure to the Grecian camp, dies in battle lamenting the futility of earthly romance. Criseyde, on the other hand, survives amidst the conflicting rules of courtly love and war. This paper examines the relationship of romance and history in Troilus and Criseyde to argue that Criseyde achieves an inclusive understanding of the world she inhabits, recognizing both genres without negating the other. I begin with an overview of preceding criticism on the cross-generic qualities of Troilus and Criseyde. While most critics agree on the co-existence of romance and history in the text, many see the ending as a tragic fall of idealistic romance in the face of violent and corrupt history. This easily leads to condemning Criseyde, with her slydyng heart, as the fickle traitor and enemy of virtu-ous romance. I counter this judgement by arguing that Criseydes sly-dyng is a complex production of a historical context that relies heavily on the traffic of women. Historical events do not adhere to the rules of courtly love. The knights romantic world is only valid when it ignores deviations. Troilus, first absorbed in courtly romance and then negating the world where romance cannot endure, fails to comprehend the historical context he is embedded in. It is Criseyde who has an acute awareness of her position as a vulnerable woman in a beseiged city. By reading into Criseydes understanding of both the romance and history she is a part of, we can recognize the world of Chaucers narrative that is not easily incorporated into a single genre. This is a world that refuses to comply with the refined rules of a genre, a world in which Criseyde continues to negoti-ate her survival.