Week 4 - Spencer is, in fact, Badass

I have to say, I went to Catholic schools for eleven years (by no stretch of the imagination am I Catholic, that's just how things worked out) and not once did my religion teacher mention the whore of Babylon riding in on a seven-headed beast when the earth ends. It figures they would cut out the fun bits. I must have skipped over that page in Revelations. This is just me appreciating the 12 year old boy aspect of the Fairie Queene. Contrary to the imagery suggested by the title, there is quite a healthy serving of blood, guts, dragons and witches. I approve.

I do wonder, however, if our interpretations are correct. If Spencer were to sit in on our discussions, would he commend us on our cunning ability to decipher his work and discover the deeper meaning behind the 12 year old boy appeal of the Fairie Queene? Or would he simply inform us that the dragon is not Catholicism or Immorality or the embodiment of all that is hellish and evil; it is merely a badass, fire-breathing, steel-scaled lizard of mayhem and destruction and we are cheapening its badassness with out fancy interpretations and associations. Shame on us.

On a more scholarly and less badass note, I most certainly appreciate Spencer's transformation of Una from a damsel in distress to a heroine. She didn't save little forest animals, she didn't save another woman, she didn't even save a regular old Joe; she saved a knight. Specifically, she saved the knight that was supposed to be saving her. Whether or not Una represents Queen Elizabeth (which I do in fact think she does), I appreciate a woman being portrayed as heroic, especially considering the time period.

As for the political aspect, it seems that nobody has ever liked Catholics. I am also enrolled in a Victorian literature course and the Bronte sisters seemed to loathe Catholics as well.

What I find most impressive though is Spencer's a ability to maintain a rhyme scheme throughout the entire story! I was so wrapped up in the plot that I did not even realize there were rhyme schemes present! It is flawless. I can not even begin to imagine the effort and time he put into that. It is no wonder he was unable to complete it. Spot on, Spencer. Spot on.