The Franklin's Tale as Social Romance
The style in the opening description of Dorigen and Arveragus (729-60) contains a lot of abstract language. It is full of words such as 'worthyness' and 'obeysaunce' which result in a type of characterisation which is itself abstract and idealised. Many of the sentences are neatly balanced and produce a sense of formality. All these abstract and formal features are essential in creating the idealised world of court romance:
'But atte laste she, for his worthyness,
And namely for his meke obeysaunce,' (738-9)
If one looks at the actual marriage agreement between Dorigen and Averagus it is not only built round the term 'gentilesse' but also 'maistrie' and 'soveraynetee' (both meaning 'power' or 'control') as well as 'trouthe' (nobility and fidelity). Although 'gentilesse' and 'franchyse' play a substantial part in this tale and Chaucer seems to idealise these qualities, I am not sure how useful the term 'social romance' is nor the fact that courtly experiences centre on love which is the view held by John Stevens.
Of course, It depends how literally one takes the term 'love'. But as far as I can see these courtly experiences centre on power and control as far as the male characters are concerned. Dorigen, does, however, represent faithful love within marriage. But there is the irony that Aurelius intervenes and urges her to be unfaithful and offers 'love' outside marriage. We know nothing about the physical aspect of Dorigen except that she is 'oon fairest under sonne' and one has no idea what Averagus looks like.
Initially one sees Averagus as the classic 'courtly lover'. He observes a standard pattern of feeling. He falls totally in love, experiences 'wo, peyne and distresse,' performs heroic deeds, and finally wins his lady over by his 'worthynesse' and 'obeysaunce'. It is also conventional that Dorigen, the heroine of the Franklin's Tale shows 'pitee' for him.
But it is apparent that Averagus does not assume he has power and control over his wife; He will 'take no maistrie' (747) . The only thing he asks is that he should keep the appearance of power: 'the name of soveraynetee'. Seemingly what is being presented is a type of mutually respectful and in most ways equal relationship. It is important to remember that considering we are talking about the mediaeval era this is a pretty radical attitude. The only condition on which the knight insists is that he should at least give the appearance of being in charge.
Having given Aurelius a firm 'no', Dorigen then adds that she would only love Aurelius when all the rocks have been removed along the coast of Brittany. Ironically it all hinges on the interpretation of what to Dorigen was an example of the impossibility of the situation.
I think the tale drastically changes in its attitude towards women in general when Averagus insists that Dorigen should keep her word as the impossible has happened. I think here there is a double irony because if this situation was impossible as Dorigen thought then it is not a possibility for her to keep her word based on what she thought. There is the fact that it does not seem to matter to either man that Dorigen would have to be unwillingly unfaithful. Averagus claims that the shame is all his and forbids his wife to tell anyone 'on pain of death', and then orders her to report his decision to the squire. Immediately one wonders what happened to their ideally 'equal' relationship, their mutual 'maistrie'. Averegus is not only keeping up the appearance of 'soveraynetee'; he seems to have taken over complete control. 'Love' I can see only in a very general heading as really what we are talking about here is an exploration of power or control within human relationships
I think one can see that Dorigen is just a vehicle for egoism regarding both men. The fact that Aurelius has traditionally not acted honourably seems to be completely overlooked. I would go as far as to say that there is in fact some kind of male bonding at play. Dorigen comes over as a lonely figure who does not seem to possess any rights in the matter:
'Thar unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,
Fro which t'escape woot I no socour,
Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour;
Oon of thise two bilhoveth me to chese.'(1356-1359)
I think it is interesting at this point that Dorigen complains about abuse of women in general. It is almost as if she is showing how it really is. That the 'worthynesse' of the husband at the beginning not having 'maistre' is a pretence. 'Worthynesse' is suddenly only interpreted between men and has nothing to do with his role as a husband. It is quite obvious that Dorigen has little direct power and depends on the whims and decisions of men. I think this part of the tale reveals that there is a class struggle for power from the unaristocratic franklin.
'Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this,
And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas,
Rather than with hir body doon trespas?' (364-366)
The magician stresses the fact that the knight, squire and himself have tried to act nobly ('gentily'). Dorigen does not figure in the magician's view of things. Nor does it seem if Dorigen is included in the narrator's final question: 'Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow?' But I think one needs to question whether 'nobility' is simply a matter of social rank, or (as the magician believes) more a matter of personal worth. If what the magician says is true one cannot help wondering where Dorigen's worth lies in all this.
This leads one to the question 'is this really court romance celebrating nobility and love?'. Certainly Dorigen's characterisation is that of a courtly lady but possibly what one could be experiencing is a holy life, in which the real but acknowledged 'saint' is the suffering and harassed heroine? I cannot help thinking that if one looks at the Franklin's Tale in context the whole story is completely over the top particularly when regarding the views on 'gentilesse' Certainly this does not change the issues that arise in the tale, but when regarding this aspect I think one's perception does change a little. If one considers the melodramatic significance of Dorigen's complaint about women being abused in general, one is presented with many rhetorical questions.
Regarding the term 'social romance' the late fourteenth century saw a decline of chivalry, and a corresponding increase in non-noble landowners that were becoming more influential. Court romance, the main literary form of chivalry, was itself beginning to look a little old-fashioned. From the prologue one can see that the Franklin probably fits into the category of the non-noble merchants and senior administrators. He appears to be self conscious of his own non-noble status, and seems desperate to be considered a nobleman of 'gentil' status. Perhaps due to his insecurity of being non-noble he is trying to prove how 'gentil' he can be.
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