Lord Alfred Tennyson, one of the most renowned poets of the Victorian era, holds a distinct position in the annals of English literature. His works are celebrated for their vivid imagery, exploration of human emotions, and intricate narrative structures. While his more famous pieces such as In Memoriam, The Charge of the Light Brigade, and The Lady of Shalott are widely studied, The Falcon—a lesser-known but remarkable drama—deserves close attention for its nuanced exploration of love, loyalty, and moral dilemmas.
First performed in 1879, The Falcon is a short, one-act play adapted from a novella by the Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio. The story revolves around Count Federigo, a nobleman who sacrifices his prized possession—his falcon—to win the love of a woman. While the narrative may appear simple, Tennyson’s adaptation adds layers of emotional complexity, making it a story not just about unrequited love but about the nature of selflessness, the limits of human generosity, and the consequences of personal choices.
In this detailed blog, we will explore a summary of The Falcon, delve into its major characters, dissect the overarching themes, and analyze the literary craftsmanship that makes this work a poignant study of the human condition.
Summary of The Falcon
The play centers around Count Federigo degli Alberighi, a wealthy and noble young man living in Florence. Federigo is known for his extravagant lifestyle, particularly his passionate hobby of falconry. However, his financial status gradually diminishes due to his lavish spending, much of which he directs toward impressing a woman named Lady Giovanna.
Federigo’s love for Giovanna is unrequited. Despite his repeated attempts to win her affection, she remains indifferent to him, married to another man and largely preoccupied with her own life. Federigo’s love for her, however, is deep and unwavering. As his wealth evaporates, the only possession of value he has left is his prized falcon—a bird of immense beauty and skill, symbolic of both his nobility and his declining fortune.
Tragedy strikes when Lady Giovanna’s husband dies, leaving her widowed with a young, ailing son. Her son, unaware of Federigo’s infatuation, becomes enamored with the falcon and expresses a deep desire to possess it. Desperate to save her child and ease his suffering, Giovanna decides to visit Federigo and ask him for the bird, hoping it will bring joy to her son in his final days.
Federigo, overjoyed by Giovanna’s unexpected visit but unaware of her true intentions, wishes to impress her. In a show of extravagant hospitality, he kills his beloved falcon and serves it to her as a meal, unaware that this was the very object of her request.
When Giovanna reveals the reason for her visit after the meal, Federigo is heartbroken but responds with grace, expressing his sorrow at having unknowingly sacrificed the one thing she desired. Moved by his noble act of selflessness, Giovanna ultimately decides to marry him, realizing that his love and generosity outweigh his material poverty.
The play ends on a bittersweet note, with Federigo winning the love of Giovanna at great personal cost.
Character Analysis
The characters in The Falcon are few in number but rich in depth. Each character embodies a specific set of values, conflicts, and emotional dilemmas that reflect the broader themes of love, sacrifice, and moral struggle.
Count Federigo degli Alberighi
At the heart of the play is Count Federigo, a man of great passion and loyalty. Federigo’s character is defined by his deep, unrelenting love for Giovanna, a love that drives him to financial ruin. His lavish lifestyle and reckless spending are symptomatic of a man who values emotional fulfillment above practical considerations. His falcon, his last remaining possession, represents the remnants of his nobility, both literal and symbolic.
Federigo’s selflessness becomes evident in the climactic scene where he kills his falcon to prepare a meal for Giovanna, unknowingly destroying the very thing she came to request. This act can be interpreted in multiple ways—on one hand, it shows Federigo’s generosity and willingness to sacrifice anything for love. On the other hand, it highlights the tragic irony of his situation, where his attempts to please are continually misguided and misunderstood.
Federigo’s arc is one of transformation. Though he begins the play as a man whose love is unreciprocated and whose wealth has been squandered, he ends as a figure of moral triumph, having won Giovanna’s heart not through material wealth but through the purity of his intentions and the nobility of his spirit. His character reflects the theme of selfless love and the power of genuine human connection over material wealth.
Lady Giovanna
Lady Giovanna is initially portrayed as somewhat distant and indifferent to Federigo’s affections. She embodies a form of practical love, focusing on her duties as a wife and mother rather than entertaining romantic pursuits. Her love for her son is central to her character, and it is this maternal love that drives her to seek out Federigo and ask for the falcon.
Giovanna’s character undergoes significant development throughout the play. At first, her visit to Federigo is motivated purely by a desire to secure the falcon for her son, with no intention of rekindling any romantic relationship with Federigo. However, as she witnesses Federigo’s selflessness and generosity—particularly in his willingness to sacrifice the falcon without a second thought—she begins to see him in a new light. By the end of the play, Giovanna’s transformation is complete as she chooses to marry Federigo, recognizing that his love, though once unrequited, is genuine and deeply honorable.
Giovanna’s character illustrates the theme of love’s evolution—from a maternal, practical form to a recognition of the deeper, more selfless love offered by Federigo. Her eventual decision to marry Federigo suggests a shift in her values, away from material considerations and toward an appreciation of emotional and moral depth.
The Falcon
While not a character in the traditional sense, the falcon plays a pivotal symbolic role in the narrative. It represents Federigo’s last vestige of nobility, his pride, and his passion. The falcon is also a symbol of freedom and independence—qualities that Federigo relinquishes when he sacrifices the bird for Giovanna’s sake.
The bird also serves as a metaphor for Federigo himself. Just as the falcon is trained to serve its master’s will, so too is Federigo willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of his unrequited love. When the falcon is killed and served as a meal, it signifies the ultimate expression of Federigo’s love—he is willing to give up the very thing that defines him in order to honor his guest.
The falcon’s role in the narrative underscores themes of sacrifice, loss, and the sometimes tragic nature of love. In its death, the falcon symbolizes the end of Federigo’s material wealth but also the beginning of his emotional and spiritual fulfillment through his union with Giovanna.
Themes in The Falcon
Tennyson’s The Falcon deals with several interconnected themes, each contributing to the emotional and philosophical depth of the play. The major themes include:
1. Sacrifice and Selflessness
The theme of sacrifice is central to the narrative, with Federigo’s ultimate act of selflessness—killing his prized falcon to honor Giovanna—forming the emotional climax of the play. Federigo’s sacrifice is twofold: first, he gives up his falcon, his last possession of value; second, he sacrifices his pride and dignity by openly acknowledging his failure to win Giovanna’s love through material means.
This act of selflessness is ultimately what redeems Federigo in Giovanna’s eyes. Tennyson seems to suggest that true love is not measured by material wealth or grand gestures but by the willingness to put another’s needs above one’s own. Federigo’s sacrifice also resonates with the broader theme of love’s ability to transcend selfish desires and evolve into something more meaningful and lasting.
2. The Irony of Unfulfilled Desires
Irony plays a significant role in The Falcon, particularly in the relationship between Federigo and Giovanna. Federigo’s actions, though motivated by love, consistently result in unintended consequences. His extravagant spending to win Giovanna’s favor leaves him impoverished, and his decision to kill the falcon to impress her leads to the heart-wrenching realization that it was the very object she desired.
This irony speaks to the unpredictability of human desires and the sometimes futile nature of our attempts to fulfill them. Federigo’s missteps, however, do not diminish the nobility of his character; rather, they highlight the complexity of love and human relationships, where intentions and outcomes are often misaligned.
3. Love as a Transformative Force
Throughout the play, love is depicted as a transformative force capable of changing both the lover and the beloved. Federigo’s love for Giovanna drives him to extremes—first in his reckless spending, then in his ultimate act of sacrifice. Though his love is initially unreciprocated, it eventually transforms Giovanna, who comes to see Federigo’s worth not in terms of material wealth but in the depth of his character.
Giovanna’s decision to marry Federigo at the end of the play illustrates love’s ability to evolve and deepen over time. What begins as unrequited love transforms into a mutual understanding and appreciation, suggesting that love, in its truest form, is not immediate but grows through sacrifice and shared experiences.
4. The Intersection of Wealth and Morality
The tension between wealth and morality is another prominent theme in The Falcon. Federigo’s financial decline, brought on by his excessive spending, is juxtaposed against his moral ascent through acts of selflessness. As his material wealth diminishes, his moral stature grows, culminating in his ultimate act of sacrifice.
Tennyson seems to critique the superficiality of wealth and status, suggesting that true nobility lies not in material possessions but in one’s character and actions. Federigo’s poverty does not diminish his worth in Giovanna’s eyes; instead, his generosity and moral integrity ultimately win her love. This theme reflects a broader Victorian concern with the relationship between wealth, social status, and personal virtue.
Literary Analysis of The Falcon
Tennyson’s adaptation of Boccaccio’s tale showcases his mastery of narrative form and poetic language. Although The Falcon is written as a drama, it contains many of the hallmarks of Tennyson’s poetic style, including rich imagery, emotional depth, and a keen sense of irony.
Language and Imagery
Tennyson’s use of language in The Falcon is both economical and evocative. The imagery surrounding the falcon is particularly striking, with the bird serving as a symbol of both nobility and sacrifice. Tennyson’s descriptions of the falcon in flight evoke a sense of freedom and beauty, while its death signifies the loss of both material and emotional freedom.
The dialogue in the play is also carefully crafted, with each character’s speech reflecting their emotional state and moral standing. Federigo’s language, for example, is marked by a sense of earnestness and humility, while Giovanna’s initial detachment gives way to warmth and affection as the play progresses.
Irony and Symbolism
As mentioned earlier, irony plays a crucial role in the narrative, with Federigo’s actions often leading to unintended consequences. The central irony of the play—Federigo’s sacrifice of the falcon, the very thing Giovanna desires—underscores the theme of misaligned intentions and outcomes. This irony is further emphasized by the symbolic significance of the falcon itself, which represents both Federigo’s nobility and his ultimate sacrifice.
Tennyson’s use of symbolism extends beyond the falcon, with the contrast between wealth and poverty serving as a broader metaphor for the tension between material and moral values. Federigo’s loss of wealth is symbolically linked to his emotional growth, suggesting that true richness lies not in material possessions but in one’s ability to love and give selflessly.
Moral Complexity
One of the strengths of The Falcon is its exploration of moral complexity. While Federigo is undoubtedly a noble character, his actions are not without flaws. His initial pursuit of Giovanna is driven by a desire to win her affection through material means, and his decision to kill the falcon—though well-intentioned—can be seen as a misguided attempt to impress her.
Similarly, Giovanna’s character is not without moral ambiguity. Her decision to visit Federigo is motivated by a desire to fulfill her son’s wishes, but she initially shows little regard for Federigo’s feelings. It is only after witnessing his selflessness that she begins to appreciate the depth of his love.
This moral complexity adds depth to the play, preventing it from becoming a simple tale of unrequited love. Instead, The Falcon offers a nuanced exploration of human motives and the challenges of navigating love, loss, and moral responsibility.
Conclusion: The Legacy of The Falcon
Although The Falcon is not as well-known as some of Tennyson’s other works, it remains a powerful and emotionally resonant drama that explores timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and moral struggle. Through its richly drawn characters, ironic twists, and symbolic imagery, the play offers a poignant meditation on the nature of human relationships and the complexities of desire.
Tennyson’s adaptation of Boccaccio’s tale breathes new life into the story, infusing it with a depth of emotion and a sense of moral ambiguity that makes it relevant even today. In The Falcon, Tennyson reminds us that love is not always easy or straightforward, but it is through sacrifice and selflessness that we find true fulfillment.
As we reflect on The Falcon, we are reminded of the enduring power of love to transform, heal, and elevate the human spirit—even in the face of loss and heartache.
