The Fortune Pattern

The Canterbury Tales

This flow follows repeated rises and falls in the tales, showing Fortune as a narrative mechanism that unsettles human confidence.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Arcite’s Release Arcite’s Release from "The Canterbury Tales". Arcite’s Release Apparent Fortune Arcite leaves prison without ransom and gains service at Theseus’s court.

Arcite’s Release from "The Canterbury Tales". Arcite’s Release Apparent Fortune Arcite leaves prison without ransom and gains service at Theseus’s court.

Arcite’s Release Apparent Fortune Arcite leaves prison without ransom and gains service at Theseus’s court. His disguise as Philostrate brings him honor and proximity to Emily. Hidden Loss The freedom he receives is also exile. His apparent rise intensifies the impossibility of the desire that governs him.

Arcite’s Triumph Arcite’s Triumph from "The Canterbury Tales". Arcite’s Triumph Victory in the Lists Arcite’s force prevails and Theseus awards him Emily.

Arcite’s Triumph from "The Canterbury Tales". Arcite’s Triumph Victory in the Lists Arcite’s force prevails and Theseus awards him Emily.

Arcite’s Triumph Victory in the Lists Arcite’s force prevails and Theseus awards him Emily. The outcome appears to reward Mars and the fighter’s worldly effort. Fragile Celebration His triumph lasts only moments. The horse’s panic reveals that Fortune can overturn success without warning.

Zenobia’s Parade Zenobia’s Parade from "The Canterbury Tales". Zenobia’s Parade Imperial Height Zenobia rules widely, fights successfully, and commands the fear of kings. Her courage makes her fall seem almost impossible.

Zenobia’s Parade from "The Canterbury Tales". Zenobia’s Parade Imperial Height Zenobia rules widely, fights successfully, and commands the fear of kings. Her courage makes her fall seem almost impossible.

Zenobia’s Parade Imperial Height Zenobia rules widely, fights successfully, and commands the fear of kings. Her courage makes her fall seem almost impossible. Captive Display Aurelianus defeats her and exhibits her in chains. The same jewels that marked sovereignty now decorate humiliation.

Count’s Starvation Count’s Starvation from "The Canterbury Tales". Count’s Starvation Political Reversal Count Ugolino falls from power into a tower with his children.

Count’s Starvation from "The Canterbury Tales". Count’s Starvation Political Reversal Count Ugolino falls from power into a tower with his children.

Count’s Starvation Political Reversal Count Ugolino falls from power into a tower with his children. Confinement strips away rank and turns government into helpless waiting. Familial Ruin The children die one by one, followed by their father. Fortune’s reversal becomes most terrible when it destroys a household rather than an individual.

Croesus’s Misread Dream Croesus’s Misread Dream from "The Canterbury Tales". Croesus’s Misread Dream Warning Concealed as Favor Croesus dreams of rain, sunlight, and a tree, but interprets the vision as encouragement.

Croesus’s Misread Dream from "The Canterbury Tales". Croesus’s Misread Dream Warning Concealed as Favor Croesus dreams of rain, sunlight, and a tree, but interprets the vision as encouragement.

Croesus’s Misread Dream Warning Concealed as Favor Croesus dreams of rain, sunlight, and a tree, but interprets the vision as encouragement. His daughter identifies the gallows that he refuses to see. Fall Despite Escape He survives one danger and then returns to war. His confidence converts temporary rescue into a final downfall.

After Perotheus intercedes

The tournament day

In The Monk’s Tale’s historical exempla

During Count Ugolino’s imprisonment

Near the end of The Monk’s Tale