Season 4 Podcast 164 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 9 Pt IV Episode 26 “The Redcross Knight Challenges Despair.” In last week’s episode, the Redcross Knight and Una met a terrified knight fleeing from Despair who had just convinced his companion to commit suicide. Despair could only tempt those who had tremendous cause of grief. His companion, Sir Terwin, had been brutally rejected by the woman he loved. Despair fed his sorrow and then handed him a rusty knife urging him to kill himself. Already in the depths of despair Sir Terwin heeded the counsel of Despair and took his own life. Thinking life was hopeless because of the death of his companion, Sir Trevisan also fell under the spell of despair and put a rope around his own neck. However, frightened of dying he fled on his horse, the rope still around his neck. He tells Una and the Redcross Knight his sad tale. The Redcross Knight asks Sir Trevisan how it is possible that anyone from mere idle words could be persuaded to take his own life. Sir Trevisan answered that he knew from personal experience, because of his latest trial with Despair. He himself thought it impossible even for all the world’s wealth that he could be persuaded to take his own life; however, the subtle tongue of Despair dropped honey that would melt your heart. Despair searched every vein and by secret stealth he drains you of your power and leaves only weakness. The Redcross Knight swears to meet Despair face to face and destroy him for his evil. Sir Trevisan pleads with the Redcross Knight, “O never Sir desire to try guileful Despair.How may a man (said he) with idle speachBe wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health? I wote (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,That like would not for all this worldes wealth: His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt'hInto the hart, and searcheth every vaine;That ere one be aware, by secret stealthHis powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.O never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.The Redcross Knight tells Sir Trevisan that he shall never rest until he has heard that treacherous art and tried it for himself. He asks him to guide him to Despair’s cabin. Sir Trevisan said he would ride with him to show him where Despair lives but would not for any amount of gold or love of money abide there with him. He said he would rather die than see Despair’s deadly face.Personification is a common literary tool. Spencer, of course, personifies Despair, making him appear as a real person. The message of Spencer is clear. We should not tempt despair by feeding it; otherwise, the power of despair will grow stronger and stronger until despair overwhelms us. Despair is a delicate subject. All of us perhaps have had cause of despair; therefore, it isn’t personal sorrow itself that is the enemy. The enemy is in feeding despair until it becomes a monster that persuades us to give up all hope even to the point of taking our own life.  We see a pattern here with the Redcross Knight. If you remember his first battle with a dragon where unprepared as he was he insisted upon looking into the dragon’s lair. He and Una because of the storm had strayed from the straight and narrow path. However, they could have avoided the dragon because the dragon did not want to come out of his cave. The dragon hated the light. Nonetheless, the Redcross Knight was determined to enter the dragon’s lair and taunt the dragon. To protect her young the dragon had no choice but to attack. The Redcross Knight was not prepared for the fierceness of the dragon. Just as he was about to succumb, Una shouted out which gave him courage else he would have lost his life at the very beginning of their quest.

Ver todos los episodios