A TALE OF TWO NATIONS: CHAUCER, HENRYSON, SHAKESPEARE, TROILUS AND CRISEYDE

Abstract

The matter of Troilus and Criseyde had been dealt in both England and Scotland in similar yet different ways from the late 14th to the early 17th century. In Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde (ca. 1385), the conflict between worldly and heavenly love is depicted in a controversial way. Henryson’s Testament of Cresseid (ca. 1480) seems to give a Scottish, or rather Catholic, answer and after thought to the loose ends he inherited from Chaucer. However, a new twist in the literary relation between England and Scotland occurs when the Matter of Troy is put on stage. Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida (ca. 1602) combines Chaucer and Henryson’s versions. In the former, Shakespeare merely continues the English tradition, yet in the latter, Shakespeare seems to deviate from that tradition in embracing Scottish literature at a time when England was ruled by Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland was a strong candidate for the succession to the English throne. Thus, through the work, the unification of the two countries is maintained on a literary level, which would be maintained later also practically under the future James I of England. Thus, the Troilus and Criseyde story sheds light into the Anglo-Scottish relations and the reciprocal influence of each side on the other reflected in literature. Therefore, this paper will compare and contrast Chaucer’s, Henryson’s and Shakespeare’s dealing of Troilus and Criseyde. 

Keywords

• Chaucer
• Henryson
• Shakespeare
• Troilus and Criseyde
• Anglo-Scottish Interactions

İKİ ULUSUN HİKAYESİ: CHAUCER, HENRYSON, SHAKESPEARE, TROİLUS VE CRİSEYDE

Abstract

14. yüzyılın sonlarından 17. yüzyılın başlarına kadar, Troilus ve Criseyde konusu hem İngiltere hem de İskoçya’da benzer ama birbirinden farklı olarak ele alınmıştı. Chaucer’ın Troilus ve Criseyde (1385 civarı) adlı eserinde dünyevi ve ilahi aşkın çatışması tartışmalı biçimde tasvir edilmektedir. Henryson’ın Cresseid’in İfadesi (1480 civarı) adlı eseri ise Chaucer’dan kendisine intikal eden boşlukları doldurmak için bir İskoç veya daha doğrusu bir Katolik bakış açısıyla cevap verdiği ve fikrini beyan ettiği görülmektedir. Ancak, İngiltere ve İskoçya ilişkilerinde yeni bir dönemeç Truva konusunun sahneye taşınmasıyla görülecektir. Shakespeare’in Troilus ve Cressida (1602 civarı) adlı eseri Chaucer ve Henryson’un yorumlarını birleştirmektedir. Chaucer’ı kullanarak sadece İngiliz geleneğini devam ettirdiği düşünülse de, Henryson’u kullanarak bu gelenekten uzaklaştığı ve I. Elizabeth tarafından yönetilip İskoçya Kralı VI. James’in İngiliz tahtının en güçlü varislerinden olduğu bir dönemde İskoç geleneğini benimsediği görülmektedir. Böylece eser sayesinde iki ülke edebi anlamda birleşmektedir, ki bu birleşme siyasi olarak İngiltere Kralı I. James sayesinde de gerçekleşecektir. Böylece, Troilus ve Criseyde konusu İskoç-İngiliz ilişkilerini ve karşılıklı edebi etkileşimleri aydınlatmaktadır. Bundan dolayı bu makalenin amacı Chaucer, Henryson ve Shakespeare’in Troilus ve Criseyde konusunu ele alışlarını karşılaştırmaktır.

Keywords

• Chaucer
• Henryson
• Shakespeare
• Troilus and Criseyde
• İskoç-İngiliz İlişkileri

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