Week 3 Faerie Queen

This story has many Christian/Catholic undertones as we knew it hitherto however, Canto 4 reflects the Catholic religion in the way of the Seven Deadly Sins compared with the Six Vices -- many of which overlap each other. Perhaps, in light of reformation and religious movements and change going on during Spenser's time, he was attempting to make an argument for Catholicism. Interestingly enough though, Spenser was known for opposing some of the Catholic views -- so his reason for reflecting the seven sins is ambiguous.

Aside from religion, an interesting tactic of Spenser's in the Faerie Queene is using similar character names for different characters -- this causes confusion in the mind's of the reader, which Spenser probably meant to do on purpose since confusion, especially regarding identity, is evident throughout all six cantos so far. The names coincide, and the appearances do as the characters' appearances are altered to stir confusion and mishap. (ex-when Redcrosse finds who he thinks is Una in bed with another man). The characters of Sans-foy and Sanjoy are interchangeable names, adding to further confusion. Character confusion, identity and appearance wise, is a theme throughout the tale.