Prosochê and the Transformation of the Self in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Poetry

The article deals with the concept of prosochê, defined as concentration on the present moment, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poetry. Even though the Greek term never appears in Chaucer’s poetry, the idea of attentive reflection on the self, others, and the cosmos is often articulated by the poet, especially in his courtly poetry, which construes individuals as steeped in apathy and in need of inner transformation. The poet underlines the transformative power of attention through a call to wake up, examples of which will be examined in this article, based on two poems: The Book of the Duchess and Troilus and Criseyde. It will be shown that Chaucer’s engagement with the concept of prosochê is testament to the poet’s creativity while handling his sources as well as to his moral sensitivity and philosophical reflection.