Phaon (or Phedon), is a minor character that appears in book 2 of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene.
He is first seen being dragged about by Furor and Occasion before being rescued by Sir Guyon.
He later shares his own tale, which is a source for William Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, a story about love that is out of control. Guyon advises him to use more temperance in his life, completing the theme of temperance in book 2.
In his story, we learn that Philemon, his friend, provokes him into thinking that his fiancée has betrayed him. Phaon gives into passionate feelings of revenge, kills his fiancée, as well as Philemon. It’s no wonder that he is later beset by Furor (or rage), following these acts.
See our complete list of Arthurian characters for more entries like this one.
Arthurian Bibliography
- Norris Lacy, Geoffrey Ashe, Debra Mancoff – The Arthurian Handbook (Second Edition)
- Alan Lupack – The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend
- Ronan Coghlan – The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends
- Anonymous – Lancelot-Grail, the French Vulgate
- Sir Thomas Malory – Le Morte d’Arthur
See also my ever-expanding list of primary and secondary sources.