Fate and Fortune in Troilus and Criseyde
Introduction
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde presents an intricate portrait of love, tragedy, and destiny in the shadow of war. Although the romance between Troilus and Criseyde forms the emotional core of the narrative, it is the overwhelming influence of fate and fortune that defines their journey. The characters seem to act on their desires, yet their paths are constantly shaped by uncontrollable external forces. Through this theme, Chaucer invites readers to reflect on the fragility of human plans and the deeper forces that govern life.
The Concept of Fate and Fortune in Medieval Thought
In medieval philosophy, especially as shaped by Boethius, the world was governed by the Wheel of Fortune—a spinning wheel that lifts people up and casts them down without warning. Chaucer, deeply influenced by this idea, weaves it seamlessly into his poem. Fate and fortune are not only poetic motifs but philosophical truths that express the randomness of joy and the certainty of suffering. From the start, Chaucer sets the stage for a tale where every gain carries the shadow of loss.
Troilus as a Pawn of Fate and Fortune
Troilus appears at first as a confident and heroic figure, untouched by love and fully in command of his life. However, the moment he lays eyes on Criseyde, his destiny changes. His falling in love feels spontaneous, but Chaucer subtly reveals it as orchestrated by fate and fortune. Every joy Troilus experiences is matched by a reversal. His emotional highs—his love, his secret meetings, and his passion—are inevitably followed by devastating lows. This cycle mirrors the motion of Fortune’s Wheel, turning with indifferent force.
Criseyde and Her Vulnerability to Fortune
Unlike Troilus, Criseyde’s position is fragile from the beginning. As the daughter of a traitor and a widow, her life is dictated by politics and survival. Her love for Troilus may seem voluntary, yet it is framed by the pressures of a society governed by instability. When she is traded to the Greek camp, she does not control her fate. Even her eventual shift of affection toward Diomede, though interpreted by some as betrayal, is a reaction to fear and necessity. Fate and fortune leave Criseyde with choices that are illusions.
Pandarus and the False Belief in Control
Pandarus, the friend and go-between, believes he can shape outcomes through clever speech and manipulation. His plans to unite Troilus and Criseyde initially succeed, reinforcing the illusion that human agency can triumph. Yet, his efforts are ultimately defeated by larger forces. Chaucer uses Pandarus to demonstrate how fate and fortune mock human cunning. Though he acts with confidence, his inability to sustain the lovers’ happiness shows the limits of control. His character reveals the tension between human desire and divine or cosmic will.
Fortune’s Wheel: The Central Symbol
The poem returns again and again to the Wheel of Fortune. This symbol represents life’s unpredictability and the lack of permanence in any state. Troilus rises when he gains love, but he falls when he loses Criseyde. No position, however happy or secure, lasts forever. Chaucer uses this symbol to highlight how fate and fortune can destroy the dreams they seem to fulfill. The shift from bliss to misery is never far apart in Chaucer’s world, emphasizing the theme of instability.
Boethius’s Influence on Chaucer’s Vision
Chaucer was a translator of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, and his poem reflects Boethian ideas about fate. Boethius describes fortune as both deceitful and educational—a force that, while painful, reveals truth. In Troilus and Criseyde, this philosophy appears in Troilus’s transformation. By the poem’s end, Troilus reaches a state of spiritual clarity. He begins to see beyond his suffering and recognizes the vanity of earthly joy. Fate and fortune, though destructive, push him toward enlightenment and detachment.
Narrator’s Shifting Perspective on Fate
Chaucer’s narrator does not maintain a single attitude toward fate and fortune. At times, he mourns with the characters. At others, he steps back and reflects philosophically. This changing tone mirrors the narrator’s own struggle to understand the role of destiny. He occasionally questions whether things could have turned out differently. This ambiguity allows readers to explore multiple interpretations. Are the characters victims, or are they responsible for their fates? Chaucer leaves this question open.
The Trojan War as a Backdrop of Doom
The setting of the Trojan War intensifies the story’s sense of doomed inevitability. The war itself is a grand example of fate and fortune at work. Its destruction looms over every character’s action. Troilus fights bravely, but his efforts cannot alter Troy’s fate. The city’s fall parallels Troilus’s personal tragedy. Chaucer uses this backdrop to suggest that no private love or plan can stand against the march of fate. Political decisions, like personal ones, are ruled by unseen hands.
Tragedy Through the Lens of Fate and Fortune
The poem’s tragedy is not just emotional but philosophical. Troilus and Criseyde do not merely suffer bad luck; they are ensnared by larger patterns. Their choices seem real but are shaped by conditions beyond their control. Fate and fortune operate like a script, turning the story into a meditation on the human condition. The pain the characters feel is amplified by the sense that their suffering was unavoidable. This awareness deepens the tragedy, giving it resonance far beyond the plot.
Troilus’s Final Vision and Escape from Fortune
In the closing of the poem, Chaucer offers a powerful moment of transcendence. Troilus dies and ascends to the heavens, where he looks down and laughs at the futility of earthly concerns. This image suggests a release from fate and fortune. While fortune rules the physical world, the soul can rise above it. Troilus’s laugh is not cruel, but enlightened. He sees how limited human understanding is. Chaucer ends not with despair but with spiritual insight, merging classical philosophy with Christian hope.
Conclusion
Troilus and Criseyde is a powerful exploration of fate and fortune, not merely as literary motifs, but as forces that govern every aspect of human life. From love to war, joy to sorrow, Chaucer shows that nothing escapes the touch of destiny. The characters struggle, hope, and grieve under the illusion of control, only to discover that their lives are part of a larger design. Yet, in this design lies not only tragedy but wisdom. The poem ends by suggesting that while we cannot change fate and fortune, we can rise above them in understanding.
Courtly Love in Troilus and Criseyde: https://englishlitnotes.com/2025/05/14/courtly-love-in-troilus-and-criseyde/
Notes on English for All Classes: https://englishwithnaeemullahbutt.com/