Edmund Spenser Parallels in Edmund Term Paper

Rather than inquiring with Una into her motivations or intentions when he discovered her image with another man, Redcrosse flees and abandons her to fend for herself. Una, is upset to find herself alone in a dangerous land, not truly knowing why her knight had left her. Rather that believing in her loyalty and virtue, Redcrosse took the easy way out in the land of great deception and turmoil. He assumed that what his eyes saw was really reality, rather than believing in Una's true virtue.

Later in Cantos XI, the tables of deception turn. Once again a case of mistaken identity threatens the virtue of one of the major characters in the epic story. Rather than Una, this time it is Redcrosse's virtue which is questioned. After defeating the dragon and freeing Una's parents, a messenger arrives and informs the kingdom that Redcrosse is in fact engaged to another woman. The king is outraged and demands an explanation for Redcrosse's deception. Just like Una's tribulation in Cantos I, Redcrosse was afflicted by a case of mistaken identity.He believed that the maiden he was with was a virtuous and honorable woman, but was in fact the deceptive Duessa who was later exposed for her trickery.

Despite Redcrosse being caught in the same situation as Una in the first cantos, Una reacts kindly and understands the situation rather than abandoning her beloved knight. This is a development of the plight which initially led her to be abandoned. Redcrosse now sees the world for all its deceptiveness, and therefore he is saved from the same fate which he put Una through. Una is also more understanding about the case of mistaken identity because she has been through a very similar situation. Spenser uses this parallel to bring final closure to the initial situation with Una in Cantos I. With this event, Redcrosse finally understands the mistake he had made when he assumed his Una was untrue......