The Palace of Lucifera

The most interesting section of this story for me was when Duessa, the witch, led Redcrosse to the palace of Lucifera. I enjoyed all of the symbolism and real life application of these scenes. When the travelers were welcomed in to the palace, six counselors were presented. These counselors included; Idleness, Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Envy, and Wrath. These "deadly sins" are seen in countless expressions and forms of art. Right away the reader can observe these counselors and gain the foreshadowed feeling of uneasiness. This feeling becomes reality when Redcrosse is led down to the dungeon and sees all of the men being held there.

At this point I really enjoyed the metaphor for the "sins" or choices we make in our lives that tend to consume us. Similar to this palace that Redcrosse is taken to, when you are exposed to a person whose counsel is one of any six counselors at the palace, you get the same foreshadowing feeling that that person is a prisoner to their counsel. Idleness, Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Envy and Wrath can all make a person feel like they are in control and living very well through one of any of these states. However, it is easy for others to see the forces holding back individual progress and consuming that person.

Of all the applications that we can derive from this story, I felt that the "deadly sins" was the most powerful. However, I think it is also worth mentioning the feeling of everything evening out in the world throughout the story. This is in reference to bad things happening to characters when they first do bad things to someone else, but for me it felt like the "bad karma" was only equal to the bad deed done. No more or no less.