Question

What does the knight mean when he says, “take all my wealth and let my body go”?

A) he would rather die than keep his wealth

B) he would rather be penniless than marry the old woman

C) he would rather keep his wealth than give himself to her

D) he would rather die than give up his wealth

Answer 1

The knight would prefer to sacrifice his wealth to avoid an unwanted obligation, most likely an undesirable marriage, indicating that he values his freedom and personal preferences over his material possessions.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the knight says, “take all my wealth and let my body go”, he is expressing a wish to be free from an obligation that he finds repugnant or unbearable, so much so that he is willing to forsake his wealth to avoid it. In this context, the option that best fits the sentiment expressed by the knight is (B) he would rather be penniless than marry the old woman. Wealth is usually a significant source of security and happiness, but here the knight implies that his bodily autonomy and choice in marriage are more valuable to him than material possessions. The idea of giving up wealth to maintain one's personal freedom or preference is a recurring theme in literature and speaks to the universal human experience of valuing autonomy and integrity over material wealth.