THE FAERIE QUEENE Q: Write a critical note on The Red Cross Knight’s encounter with Monster Error and its significance as reflected in Canto-I, Book-I of The Faerie Queene.

The Read Cross Knight, the dauntless and adventurous hero of Book-I, has not given any particular name. He is known by his designation which is The Red Knight. He is called so because he wears on his armour the sign of the red-coloured cross, and because the same sign is also inscribed on his shield. The Cross is the symbol of the sacrifice and martyrdom of Lord Jesus Christ. The Red Cross Knight bearing this holy Cross symbolizes an ardent lover, follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. From the point of moral allegory he stands for Holiness, while, from the religious point of view he symbolizes Christianity. He undertook a dangerous enterprise accompanied by Una, the symbol of Truth, to free Una’s parents as well as the suffering people from the bondage of a Dragon, the symbol of Devil or Satan. From this great mission he was assigned by Gloriana, the Faerie Queen, symbolizing Queen Elizabeth.

                           On the other hand, we find the Monster Error whom The Red Cross Knight met in the fearful and wandering wood, the abode of Error. The monster is a dirty, filthy, loathsome and hateful ugly creature. The upper half of the Monster’s body had the shape of women and the lower half of the body was that of a serpent with long tail. Spenser thus depicts the Monster Error:

                    “Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide,

                      But th’ other halfe did womens shape retaine,

                      Most lothsome, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine.”   

She stands for all kinds of errors-moral, social, political, religious and so on that we often commit in life.