Question: Bring out the principal traits of the character of Lady Una as portrayed in Book-I, Canto-I of The Faerie Queene.

Answer: Spenser’s heroines are paragons of beauty and virtue. Lady Una, the heroine of the first book of The Faerie Queene is no exception in this regard. She has been portrayed as both an individual and a type. She stands for Beauty, Truth, Goodness, wisdom and innocence, the qualities which Plato had taught his disciples to regard as identical. Una, as portrayed in Canto-I of Book-I, is a combination of such excellent qualities as truthfulness, constancy of purpose, a strong filial devotion, a steadfast love for the man to whom she has given her heart, strong determination, unfaltering courage, a generous and compassionate heart, and an invincible sense of honour.

Lady Una is introduced to us, in the very first Canto, as a lovely lady riding upon a humble ass. The ass is white in colour but the lady is even more beautiful white than the ass. However, her beauty is hidden under a veil which is gathered into folds and falls considerably below her face. Over her head and her veil, she is wearing a black long robe. She looks like a person inwardly mourning some loss. She is in a sad mood and sits dejectedly upon her slow-moving ass. She is also leading a milk-white lamb by a string. The lady is as pure and innocent as that lamb which walks behind her.

Then we know that she is a loving and dutiful daughter of a king. She has passed her girlhood, in all comforts and luxury, under the sheltered care of her parents. She is weak and pure having no experience of the world. She is as innocent and white of soul, as the meek lamb that follows her:

“So pure and innocent as that same lamb

She was in life and every virtuous lore”

Inexperienced, weak and innocent as she is, she does not hesitate to set out in search of her parents when they are imprisoned by the foul dragon. Now she is in heartfelt grief. In the love of her parents, she completely forgets her own self. She suffers terribly, but in spite of all sorrows and sufferings, all dangers and difficulties, she persists in her search. As an embodiment of all the virtues, she is an angel. But she is also a human being in her heart-rending suffering and the bitter tears she sheds. Her persistence, her love and her patience are at last rewarded and she succeeds in securing the freedom of her parents, and in restoring them to their original status.

Lady Una’s love for the Red Cross Knight is genuine and unalloyed. She always accompanies the Knight on his journey and gives useful advice and inspiration in times of need. When the Knight after a troublesome journey through the wood comes to a hollow cave, which later on is proved to be the cave of the monster Error, the lady cautions the Knight saying,

“Be well aware,…………………………………..

Least suddonne mischiefe ye too rash provoke 

The danger hid, the place unknowne and wilde,

Breedes dreadfull doubts. Oft fire is without smoke, 

And perill without show: therefore your stroke

Sir knight withhold, till further triall made.”

The lady’s advice here seems to be sound and appropriate for the occasion. Since she is the daughter of the King of the Faery land, she is well aware of the danger of this place and warns the Knight in time. When the Knight answers to the lady’s cautionary words, “Ah Ladie (said he) shame were to revoke/The forward footing for a hidden shade”, she tells that the danger of this place is known to her better than to him. Although it is now too late for her to ask him to turn back because going backwards at this stage is an act of cowardice. Yet the lady displays her wisdom saying that when one has reached a gate, one should stop there and look around oneself rather than go forward and afterwards feel compelled to retreat. As this is the abode of the monster Error, hated by God and man, the Knight should be careful. The lady’s sage advice inspires the Knight to proceed with caution.

Her wisdom is further seen in the guidance she gives to her champion, the Red Cross Knight during his fight with the monster Error.

“Now now Sir Knight, shew what ye bee,

Add faith unto your force, and be not faint. 

Strangle her, else she sure will strangle thee”

At the lady’s words of encouragement the Knight, collecting all his strength, manages to free one of his hands. With this free hand, he presses the monster’s throat with so much force that she is compelled to relax her wicked coils within which she has so long been holding the Knight. Thus Una’s timely inspiration is necessary for the Knight to fight against his adversary.

Again it is Una who is the first to greet the Knight for his victory over the monster Error:

“Well worthy be you of that Armory

Wherein ye have great glory wonne this day,

And proved your strength on a strong enimie.”

Lady Una’s wisdom is proved on many occasions. In short, she is the apotheosis of womankind. She is Spenser’s ideal of a perfect woman. Duty, Love, forgiveness, patience, innocence and wisdom are important qualities of her character. She has been wonderfully humanised, although in the allegory she stands for “Truth’ or the true Religion of the Anglican Church.