A senex amans (from Latin: "aged lover", "amorous old man") is a stock character of classical Greek and Roman comedy, medieval literature (e.g., fabliau) and drama. It is an old jealous man married to a young woman and thus often an object of mockery. He is variously ugly, impotent, puritanical, and foolish to be cuckolded by a young and handsome man. Often the term senex amans is applied to the very motif involving the three.
The classic example of a senex amans is Januarie (January) in the "Merchant's Tale" (part of the Canterbury Tales).[1] He is 60 years old (which given the life expectancy was a very advanced age) and he marries a young girl (under 18) named May, who later cuckolds him by entering into a secret relationship with January's squire, Damyan (Damian).
The senex amans is not always a one-dimensional figure presented for derision. The morality within the tale itself is somewhat ambiguous, with the corrosive irony directed at January coupled with a more generalised sympathy and understanding.
^Jill Whitelock (1 January 2005). The seven sages of Rome (midland version). Oxford University Press. p. 103. ISBN978-0-19-722327-7.
Albrecht Classen (31 August 2015). Handbook of Medieval Culture. De Gruyter. pp. 860–. ISBN978-3-11-038732-2.
February 11, 2024
senex, amans, senex, amans, from, latin, aged, lover, amorous, stock, character, classical, greek, roman, comedy, medieval, literature, fabliau, drama, jealous, married, young, woman, thus, often, object, mockery, variously, ugly, impotent, puritanical, foolis. A senex amans from Latin aged lover amorous old man is a stock character of classical Greek and Roman comedy medieval literature e g fabliau and drama It is an old jealous man married to a young woman and thus often an object of mockery He is variously ugly impotent puritanical and foolish to be cuckolded by a young and handsome man Often the term senex amans is applied to the very motif involving the three The classic example of a senex amans is Januarie January in the Merchant s Tale part of the Canterbury Tales 1 He is 60 years old which given the life expectancy was a very advanced age and he marries a young girl under 18 named May who later cuckolds him by entering into a secret relationship with January s squire Damyan Damian The senex amans is not always a one dimensional figure presented for derision The morality within the tale itself is somewhat ambiguous with the corrosive irony directed at January coupled with a more generalised sympathy and understanding See also editForced marriage Senex iratusReferences edit Jill Whitelock 1 January 2005 The seven sages of Rome midland version Oxford University Press p 103 ISBN 978 0 19 722327 7 Albrecht Classen 31 August 2015 Handbook of Medieval Culture De Gruyter pp 860 ISBN 978 3 11 038732 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Senex amans amp oldid 1110281574, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,