Close Reading Analysis of Chaucer's Book of the Duchess

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Close Reading Analysis
Introduction
The Book of the Duchess was written by Geoffrey Chaucer in honor of Blanche, who was the ditches of Lancaster at the time. She was the wife of John of Gaunt, who was the author’s best friend. Blanche seems to have died at an early age due to several causes, with the most probable one being plague. Her husband mourned her for the rest of his life. The book is a collection of poems that are aimed at honoring her, written on the second anniversary of her death. The poem is written in high medieval dream style, where the author narrates through a dream or vision that he experiences after falling asleep. The narrator feels like he is at peace or already resigned to the prevailing condition. Throughout the poem, the narrator simply tries to help the knight recall all the good times that he had while his wife was still alive. There are various passages within the narration that can be deeply understood when dissected further.
Close Reading
Line 1 to 25 brings light to what the narrator is enduring. He feels like a robot; not having joy or sorrow. He is apathetic in the sense that he does not really get moved by anything that is happening around him as he notes ‘ I take no heed ,Of anything that comes or goes, Nor anything do like or loath. All is of equal good to me.’ He is worried about his insomnia, and appears to think that he might die of it. He is not quite sure why he is experiencing all these things, but can place a finger to the emotional turmoil that he is currently going through. Emotional turmoil can sometimes result in psychological turmoil as well, which is often manifested through the same things that the narrator is experiencing. Not only is he sad, but also borderline depressed.
There is some element of courtly love in the passage. Courtly love is where a lady is married and inaccessible; but is still an object of much admiration, attraction, obsession and devotion from a knight. Courtly love was a product of chivalrous efforts of knights to the women around...