The Faerie Queene

Poetry | Edmund Spenser
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How Were the Red Cross Knight and Una Entrapped by Archimago?

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How were the Red Cross Knight and Una entrapped by Archimago? 

In “The Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto 1” (1590), Archimago tricks both the Red Cross Knight and Lady Una. He uses lies, black magic, and false appearance to trap them. He pretends like a holy man but is actually an evil sorcerer. His main goal is to separate the Red Cross Knight (Holiness) from Lady Una (Truth).

Archimago Pretends to Be Holy: Archimago appears suddenly in the forest where Red Cross Knight and Lady Una are traveling. He looks like a pious man. He wears long black clothes, carries a book of prayers, and walks with eyes looking down. He pretends to pray and repent all the time.

“And all the way he prayed, as he went”

This makes Red Cross Knight and Una trust him. He invites them to rest in his small house. The
house looks holy from the outside. But it is actually full of evil books and magic tools.

The Magic Spell and Evil Plan: That night, while the Knight and Una are sleeping, Archimago begins his evil plan. He opens his magic books. He performs black magic to call two evil spirits. He uses these spirits to create a lustful dream for the knight and a fake Una. As Spenser writes:

“He seekes out mighty charmes, to trouble sleepy mindes.”

Archimago sends the lustful dream into the knight’s head and makes him see Lady Una behaving in a shameful way. The second spirit is changed into a false Una.

The Knight Believes the Lie: Archimago’s evil plan works. The knight wakes up from the lustful dream. He sees the fake Una trying to seduce him. He becomes very angry. He thinks Lady Una is not pure. Without asking her anything, he leaves her alone in the forest.

In short, Archimago traps them using false appearance and lies. This shows how falsehood can break trust, even between good people.

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Edmund Spenser
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