In "The Man of Law's Tale," virtue is straight-up synonymous with faith in God. Sure, Custance has a bunch of non-religious virtues, such as beauty and courtesy, or politeness. But most of her "benignytee," or goodness, is shown through her piety, which is best demonstrated during her voyages on the open sea, when she totally submits to God's will. In other words, she doesn't care whether she lives or dies. Custance is only concerned about her spiritual salvation.
Of course we can't ignore the fact that Custance's reputation for virtuous living has important consequences for her actual life—not just her afterlife. It causes her unfortunate marriage to the Sultan of Babylon, saves her from the false accusation of the Northumberland knight, and unites her with her husband Alla on two occasions. These plot points suggest that the reputation for virtue may be just as important as the fact of virtue itself.
Questions About Principles
- What does Custance's virtue consist of? How does she demonstrate her virtue?
- How does Custance's reputation for virtue affect her life?
- What does "The Man of Law's Tale" suggest are the rewards of virtue? Are the virtuous always rewarded?
- Through what means is Custance shown to effect conversions? How much agency does Custance have in these events?
Chew on This
Custance is too passive in her own life. She can't really demonstrate virtue because she hardly ever makes decisions.
"The Man of Law's Tale" demonstrates how a reputation for virtue can have a significant effect on a person's life.