extremely self-centered. This self-centeredness is untypical of courtly love.Chaucer's Arcite is released from prison and banned from Athens. However, he returns disguised so that he can remain in contact with Emelye. Arcite has suffered and has expressed regret for his suffering. "Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge,That I for yow have suffered, and so longe" (lines 1913,14).This too is untypical of the courtly love romance. The self-centered passion of Palamon and Arcite distracts the reader from any true feelings of love. The knights' view love in a barbaric way. Chaucer strays from the courtly love pattern to show the reader how selfish love and lovers can be. The courtly love romance tradition was widely used by Chaucer. However, Chaucer did not fully embrace this code. In "The Book of the Duchess" and "The Knight's Tale," Chaucer uses aspect of the courtly ideal. His absence of certain characteristics and elements of the code leaves the reader thinking, and interpreting on his/her own....
