a rose

________

Professor Whitaker

ENGL 693

October 22, 2009

False Reflections in Romance of the Rose

From its inception, The Romance of the Rose has been described as a "Mirror of the Amorous" (Gunn 33). This second title given to the book is doubly meaningful as it signals both the purpose of the text, which is the theme of love, and the didactic technique the text employs to teach its readers; the story is meant to mirror human vices in order for readers to reflect on their own exploits. Not only is the text itself meant to act as a mirror, but mirrors and reflective surfaces are also utilized within the story as symbols for vanity and narcissism. Of these reflective surfaces, the "Fountain of Love" is the most important, as both Guillame de Lorris and Jeun de Meun use this fountain as a metaphorical mirror meant to highlight the dangers of vain self-love for the Dreamer, and by extension, the reader.

portail de l'église de Lorris dans le Loiret

Français : Halle de Lorris, XIIème siècle, Loir...

Français : La halle du XII e siècle de Lorris, L...

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But before the "Fountain of Love" can be explored, there is an important moment in the beginning of the tale that immediately denotes a negative connation toward mirrors. The Dreamer is first let into the garden by a woman, described in beautiful detail, including, "There was never a girl more elegant or better arrayed…and in her hand she held a mirror" (de Lorris and de Meun 38). At first glance, the Dreamer's initial description might seem innocent, as it focuses solely on the girl's physical appearance, emphasizing her beauty. However�, upon closer inspection, there is already a hint to more devious intentions in the line, "Both sleeves were well sewn into a beautifully snug fit" (Lorris and Meun 38). To a modern reader, there is nothing lascivious about tight sleeves, but research done by...