Respuesta :
In the passage from "The Monk's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer, two main themes are developed:
A. Fortune is fickle, and ambition leads to a person's downfall.
- The excerpt highlights how Holofernes, a captain who experienced favor from Fortune, ultimately faced a downfall due to his ambitious and presumptuous nature. Despite Fortune's favor, his ambition and lecherous behavior led to his demise.
- The passage illustrates that even with external success and luck, an individual's downfall can be attributed to their unchecked ambition and arrogance, emphasizing the theme of the fickleness of Fortune and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
B. Stronger fortresses provide safety, and the wicked cannot be trusted.
- The passage portrays Holofernes as a powerful figure who subjugates many countries, indicating his strength and perceived invincibility. However, Judith, a woman, ultimately defeats him by taking advantage of his vulnerability during sleep.
- This theme underscores the idea that even the strongest and most fortified individuals or entities can be vulnerable, especially when faced with cunning and strategic adversaries. It also suggests that wickedness and lack of trustworthiness can lead to one's downfall, as seen in Holofernes' defeat at the hands of Judith.
By examining these themes within the passage, readers can glean insights into the consequences of unchecked ambition, the fickle nature of fortune, the vulnerabilities of the seemingly powerful, and the downfall of the wicked.