Season 5 Podcast 1 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 11 Pt V Episode 37 “The Final Battle.”

Season 5 Podcast 1 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Book I, Canto 11 Pt V Episode 37 “The Final Battle.” After being healed in the Well of Living Water, the Redcross Knight was again given power to fight the Dragon. The Dragon was not prepared for such a fierce onslaught. Hardened with the holy water, the sword of the Redcross Knight was able to penetrate the scaly armor of the Dragon. The Knight disabled one wing with one blow and with another he crushed the dragon’s skull. In this episode we shall conclude the great battle between good and evil. In desperation the dragon clamps his taloned feet on the shield of the Redcross Knight. Nothing could force the Dragon to let go his hold. With all his might the Redcross Knight chopped off the Dragon’s foot. Yet the severed foot continued to hold the shield. The Dragon, of course, represents Lucifer or Satan. One is reminded of the curse God paced on Satan in the Garden of Eden.“14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”Satan is given power to bruise man’s heel which can cripple him but not kill him. Man is given power to crush Satan’s head. As we have seen earlier the Redcross Knight crushed the Dragon’s head. The symbolism refers to the cunning of Lucifer. Man is given the power to outwit Satan, thus the image to ‘crush his head.’  So far the Knight has crippled one wing, cut off one foot, and crushed the Dragon’s head. Spenser is teaching us that we all have the power to diminish Satan’s hold over us, no matter how much power Satan has. Of course, without bathing in the Well of Living Water, that is without the help of Christ, the Redcross Knight would have no power over the Dragon. The other foot, fast fixed on his shield, Whenas no strength, nor stroks mote him constraineTo loose, ne yet the warlike pledge to yield,He smot thereat with all his might and maine,That nought so wondrous puissaunce might sustaine;Upon the joint the lucky steele did light, And made such way, that hewd it quite in twaine;The paw yett missed not his minisht might, But hong still on the shield, as it at first was pight.The Dragon belches fire. Fire symbolizes total destruction. Spenser compares the fire-breathing dragon to Mt. Etna, a volcano that is still active today. Satan wants nothing less than total annihilation of his foes. He is antichrist. He hates mankind because the Savior died to save mankind. Nothing less than complete subjugation will satisfy the destroyer. The force of the fire was so awful that it darkened the land with smoke. For griefe thereof and divelish despight, From his infernall fournace forth he threw Huge flames, that dimmed all the heavens light,Enrold in duskish smoke and brimstone blew:As burning Aetna from his boyling stewDoth belch out flames, and rockes in peeces broke,And ragged ribs of mountains molten new, Enwrapt in coleblacke clouds and filthy smoke,That all the land with stench, and heaven with horror choke.The heat is so intense that a second time the Knight is overcome. He retires from the dragon and the flames that belched from his vast belly. To save himself from the flames the injured Knight recoiled backwards guided by the hand of God, into the mire. However, the Knight was too feeble to stand. A second time he fell in dread and shame.