Books III and Iv of Spenser's Faerie Queene construct an intricate philosophy of love involving the association of feminine with matter and masculine with form, or spirit. As a Christian, Spenser recognized the polarization of spirit and flesh and sought to sanctify human love by arguing that the marriage of man and woman represents a reformation of the polarities of divided human nature: indeed, that man and women bring spiritual and material gifts, respectively, to one another. Women provide material generation and a lineage which is eternal through change. Men add spiritual and intellectual purpose which transcends both flesh and time.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:652946 |
| Date | January 1972 |
| Creators | James, Will R. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/16423 |
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