In the "Franklin"s Tale," Geoffrey Chaucer satirically paints a picture of a marriage steeped in the tradition of courtly love. As Dorigen and Arveragus" relationship reveals, a couple"s preoccupation with fulfilling the ritualistic practices appropriate to courtly love renders the possibility of genuine love impossible. Marriage becomes a pretense to maintain courtly position because love provides the opportunity to demonstrate virtue. Like true members of the gentility, they practice the distinct linguistic and behavioral patterns which accompany the strange doctrine of courtly love. The characters" true devotion to the relationship becomes secondary to the appearance of practicing the virtues of...
"Which was the moste free, as thnketh yowe?" 950. If a world places a higher position on truth in external interaction than it grants to private relationships, true love in the courtly tradition of behavior targeted to further self interest can never survive. In the tale"s conclusion, Dorigen and Arveragus place the masks they wear when facing the outside world and reunite in a farce of mutually contentment. Perhaps "never eft ne was there angre hem bitwene" 881 although the wording suggests likewise, but even assuming that there is no discord, there appears to be no passionate love either.