"The legend of Thisbe", de Geoffrey Chaucer

Abstract

“The Legend of Thisbe” reescribe el mito de Tisbe y Píramo. Basado en "Las metamorfosis", el relato de Chaucer introduce dos modificaciones principales: como otros en "The Legend of Good Women", omite la metamorfosis. Más importante aun, el marco ficcional del Prólogo obliga a reinterpretar el mito. Ello se debe en parte a que "The Legend of Good Women" es una palinodia, y se inserta en la tradición que debate las virtudes de los sexos, tal como atestiguan el Prólogo y las amplificaciones del relato, que invitan a reflexionar –no sin cierta ironía—acerca de la conducta de la protagonista.

“The Legend of Thisbe” rewrites the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe. Based on Ovid’s "Metamorphoses", Chaucer’s account introduces two important changes: as in other stories of "The Legend of Good Women", the metamorphosis is elided. More importantly, the Prologue’s frame narrative forces the audience to reinterpret the myth: "The Legend of Good Women" is a palinode, and thus part of the literary tradition that discusses the relative virtues of the sexes. The Prologue and the amplificactions in the story point at this, leading the audience to reflect – somewhat ironically—on the female protagonist’s conduct.