Last dying wish?

"In the whole world there isn't anyone / So worthy to be loved as Palamon, Who serves you, and will serve you all his life. And if you ever think to be a wife; Do not forget noble Palamon." Lines 2793-2797. 

Why...Just why?

Fortune and Fate

   In lines 2220 through 2260, Palamon prayed to Venus by pouring his heart out...and by sucking up to her a little bit. In one portion of his prayer he says, "Fairest of the fair...O my lady Venus/ You who bring joy to mount Cytherea,". This is how he started out his prayer, and it seems to me that he is trying to get on Venus' good side before asking for what he really wants. Palamon asks for Venus' help so that he can win the fight against Arcita. I think that this request is kind of ironic because Palamon made himself seem so confident and brave when he said he was willing to fight for his love. Also, they talked about fortune several times in this story and how "fortune decides your fate". However, it seems in this part of the story that Palamon doesn't really believe in fortune deciding your fate because he is asking for help from Venus. Not only is he asking her, he is begging her. It is kind of ironic how the story was telling how fortune would decide who the winner would be, but Palamon was relying on someone else to help him instead of relying on fate. Also, Palamon goes on to ask Venus to help him die if she can't help him win the battle. Perhaps Arcita would have won if Palamon didn't try to go and change his fate. This makes me think, does the other really believe in fortune and fate, or is he sort of making fun of it?

Can you learn to love anyone?

Is there a huge difference between Arcita and Palamon that would have made either of them a better choice for Emily? Was Palamon meant to be with Emily all along, or would Emily learn to love Arcita 'so tenderly' if he didn't die?

"For Palamon from now on all is bliss, he lives in wealth and health and happiness, and Emily loves him so tenderly, and he loves and serves her so devotedly that between those two was never spoke a jealous word, nor so much as a cross one."

The Death of a Friend

Polamon and Arcite, despite their conflict in love interest, were still "cousins of the royal blood" (27) and were knit closely. When Arcite died, Polamon was still grieving, as "after the passage of some years... (Polamon was) dressed in his clothes of black, sorrowfully," (75) showing just how much his friend had meant to him.

*Boxing bell rings*

"But, granted that you loved her earlier, Have you forgot the old philosophic saw That goes like this, "All's fair in love and war"?" (Chaucer, Wright, Part One lines 1162-1165).

As soon as I saw them start to fight over the girl and read this line come out of Arctic's mouth I knew it was trouble. However, I would have thought that them being "brothers" at this point may have made them not go down this road, but I was wrong.

the weapon of the war

The beautiful Emelye.

Plenty of Fish in the Sea

Why is Arcita so hung up on Emily? I’m sure there are plenty of fish in the sea, especially since he’s a free man. What makes Emily so special other than her beauty?

So close yet so fair

Goo Goo Dolls- "Iris"

Love is a battlefield...

Both of these men love Emily very much. They both would do anything to be with her. Although they both cannot have her. They are willing to take up arms and fight each other. They are willing to battle and see who lives and who will get to love her. Neither want to hurt or upset her.