ABSTRACT
Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene is somewhat rare within the annals of literature in that its author has offered his readers a definitive explanation as to its purpose and symbolism. The male characters in The Faerie Queene undergo a true and radical change of identity. It is the story of men whose identities are forged, and whose destinies are decided, by women. This chapter discussed one Book of The Faerie Queene, although the theme of female dominance over male identity is prevalent in all six Books. Book One is the story of the Redcrosse Knight, whose original identity and initial destiny are bestowed on him by a woman, Una. The symbolic identity of the Una character is as significant as her literal identity. By 1590, there was very little argument that Elizabeth was a successful ruler. Those who objected to her were more likely to point to her religion or legitimacy than her gender as a justification for her overthrow.
