Gentleman’s Love In England During The Renaissance

Abstract

The concept of “gentleman’s love” in Renaissance England is rooted in the tradition of medieval courtly love. Though it evolved over time, at its core it continued to imply a set of value standards balancing reason and affection. Edmund Spenser’s epic poem The Faerie Queene, written with a clear didactic purpose, articulates the moral ideals of gentlemanly culture, particularly in Book VI, The Legend of Sir Calidore, or of Courtesy, which centers on the affectional practice of gentleman’s love. This paper analyzes Calidore’s pursuit of the shepherdess Pastorella, arguing that while his love retains two central dimensions of courtly love—the idealization of women and the emphasis on courtesy—it simultaneously departs from its aristocratic context and moves toward a more rational and affectional balanced, secular model of love. Through the character of Calidore, Spenser rewrites the courtly love tradition within an English moral and cultural framework.