『페어리 여왕』 1권: 성결의 덕과 자기인식

This article explores that self-knowledge is fundamental to the virtue of holiness in Book 1 of The Faerie Queene, illuminating Redcross knight’s adventures in the light of self-knowledge. “Know yourself,” the Delphic motto was probably the most important moral principle to be observed when one sought his or her relationship with gods in the ancient western world. Christianity also considers self-knowledge as essential to a Christian’s union with God. Redcross starts his journey as a nominal Christian knight and a fairy in ignorance of his true identity. Boasting his fleshly might, he pursues earthly fame and honor in his chivalric task. All his natural strength and virtues are gradually exhausted in the process of his mission, especially by his confrontations with the three chief enemies, carnal desires (Duessa), worldly self-exultation (House of Pride and Orgoglio), and despair (Despaire). Eventually he is driven to an impasse, in which he clearly sees the total depravity of his own nature as a human, namely what he is in front of God. After purified and disciplined physically and spiritually in the House of Holiness, he finally finds the spiritual value of his earthly knighthood and his true identity and mission as Saint George of England. Becoming a self-knowing Christian, he conquers the dragon, and continues his knightly adventures as the champion knight of holiness in the fairy land.