In lines 43-446 of the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, we are introduced to more than a dozen 14th century characters. Chaucer is noted for using details to make his characters realistic and lifelike.
Choose one character (Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Prioress, etc.) and discuss how the details Chaucer chooses make the character into an individual. How do Chaucer's descriptions make a social commentary on roles in Medieval life?
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ReplyDeleteThe Knight is the first character that is introduced. The host and narrator seem to admire him a great deal. The narrator gives details about the Knight, the first being the Knight’s qualities:“chivalrie”, “trouthe”, “honour”, “fredom”, and “curteisie” p.219 lines 43-46
ReplyDeleteAnother quality that sets the Knight apart from everyone is his extensive experience from his military career. He fought in the crusades and has fought over fifteen mortal battles. The third quality the narrator remembers about the Knight is his meek, gentle, manner. Lastly the reader is told about the way the Knight dresses. He wears a tunic made of coarse cloth, and a coat of mail rusted and worn from a recent expedition he returned late from before starting his pilgrimage. “Of fustian he wered a gipoun/ Al bismotered with his haubergeoun/ for he was late come from his viage/ and wente for to doon his pilgrimage.”p. 220 lines 75-78.
It is also mentioned that the Knight brougt along his son who is the squire.
The soldier shows the qualities of an idealistic romantic Knight is obviously considered by the narrator to be the noblest of the pilgrims due to his military prowess, loyalty, honor, generosity, and good manners.
The Squire was one of many characters introduced in the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. The narrator starts off by stating how he is a lover, and a lively bachelor who is the son of the Knight (Lines 79-80). The narrator goes into detail about the appearance of the Squire, and individualizes him by saying he is a twenty year old man with curly hair and has great strength. With the specific description of the young man, he portrays himself as a perfect human being. This is backed up by listing his numerous talents such as singing, playing the flute, drawing, writing, and riding (lines 91-98). With this said, as a reader, the Squire is a handsome man who could do no wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator quickly underlines how the Squire has a lot to live up to, and big shoes to fill made my the Knight. He fulfills the responsibilities toward his father by carving his own meat for him (line 100). This is done out of love because as Feathery Friend says, "the Knight has many great qualities and is known as the noblest of all the pilgrims." Lastly, the narrator goes on by saying how he is starting early by fighting in many battles with great strength, and does so in hopes of winning over his lady (Line 88).
Chaucer individualizes the Squire as a strong, devoted, and loving man who idolizes his father, the knight, and takes on many talents in hopes to find a lady and move up on status.
Following the Squire, a character named the Yeoman was introduced. This character's role is the one and only military servant for the Squire and from the words chosen by Chaucer, Yeoman seems to be very proud and dedicated to his duty. Chaucer describes Yeoman in all armor, with his bow and arrows, sword and shield,strapped and well equipped as if he is prepared for war, always. Yeoman can dress in well attire for his job as it says in line 106 and suggests at the end of the paragraph that he is a forester. The picture of Yeoman in which Chaucer is portraying is a credited military soldier (as he lists silver medal in line 115). The reading implies that Yeoman spends a lot of time outside, because his face is a "brown visage. Probably because of constant travel through the forest.
ReplyDeleteThe Prioresse follows the Yeomen. The Prioresse is deemed to portray sensitivity, as most females do in stories. Chaucer goes into much detail describing how the Prioresse ate. By using such detail, he paints a picture for the reader, so the reader sees the Prioresse as a person and not as a character. He tells the reader that she is "charitable and compassionate." In line 146-149 he reveals that the Prioresse had beloved pet hounds, "Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde." Chaucer goes on to illustrate how she cared for her small hounds. The Prioresse having pet dogs that she loved and took care of makes the reader relate to her, and see her as an individual. Chaucer tells the reader that the Prioresse is of wealth in more than one way. First, he describes her articulate table manners, then he describes her clothing. He describes her cloak being make well, and the jewelry that she was wearing in great detail. Chaucer describes the coral and green bracelet on her wrist and the gold brooch that was adorned with a crown and a phrase, "Amor vincit omnia," meaning, love conquers all. (lines 158-162) He is making the finishing touches on the reader's mental picture of the Prioresse by illustrating with such details.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the Prioresse is the Monk. Chaucer’s Monk is far from the traditional Monk that one would imagine. In the Middle Ages Monks were to dedicate their lives to work and prayer. The narrator depicts The Monk as being very plump and handsome man, who was in good condition, that had a bald, greasy head and face that shined like glass. The Monk is also described as having eyes that role in his head. In Medieval times, Chaucer’s description of the Monk possessing rolling eyes is a sign of eagerness and desire for women and food. He was disobedient to the rules, defiant, possesses valuable material goods, and is one who loves to hunt. For instance, instead of working, studying, and praying The Monk, in The Canterbury Tales, hunts hares and rides horses. The monk did not care about the strict rule of Saint Maurus or of Saint Benedict; he followed the widespread modern day customs and was scornful of the old traditions. “He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, that seith that hunters ben nat hooly men.” He refused to live the traditional religious life of praying, studying, or engaging in manual labor. He breaks every rule that he has vowed to follow. The Monk was “an outrider”. Chaucer’s Monk is also unique in the way that he dressed. His robe was unlike other Monks. The Monk’s robe consisted of sleeves lined with squirrel fur. He also had a gold pin with an intricate knot on the end. The Monk is a religious figure that lives an easy, luxurious life.
ReplyDeleteIn Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, one of the first characters he introduces is The Wife of Bath. He goes into detail and tells about the origin of her name, coming from an English town on the Avon River. Chaucer later tells us that she is experienced with men and has had many unsuccessful marriages, which have helped shape her personality and lifestyle. She continues to be described as having luxurious taste as well as a flirty personality. It is significant to the story to have a woman as a character and particularly imperative that she was introduced as one of the first characters. Though she seems to enjoy a lavish lifestyle, she also has a reputation for arguing and creating conflict. Chaucer later begins to describe her physical traits commenting on her smile and her gap. In the late 14th century, front teeth with a gap were seen as attractive! Besides her physical appearance, Chaucer explains the importance of religion during this period. One’s beliefs were seen as sacred and that through prayer and religion all was possible. Religion was important to The Wife of Bath shown through her many pilgrimages which have taken her all over the world. Lines 466-468 describe many of the pilgrimages she’s gone on, “She hadde passed many a straunge streem;at Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,in Galice at Saint james, and at Coloigne.”
ReplyDeleteSince she is one of the two women on the pilgrimage to Canterbury, attractive and thus experienced with men, and lives a plentiful lifestyle, all of her individuality creates an amusing story about their journey to Canterbury.
The Prioresse, who follows the Yeoman, is a very interesting character that Chaucer describes with great detail. He begins her description talking of her simple and coy smile of which no foul language is spoken from. "Hir gretteste ooth was but by saint Loy! And she cleped Madame Eglantine (120-121). Aquiring the name Madame Eglantine is no surprise since later in the prologue he speaks of her very proper eating habits; "She leet no morsel from her lippes falle...Wel coude she carye a morsel, and wel keepe That no drope ne fille upon her breast (128-131)". He continues to describe her as gracious to animals, feeding them food that people would eat and weeping over a dead mouse. Chaucer makes it appearant that she is attractive having a well-formed nose, glassy eyes, and small bright red lips. She wore a pair of green beads which hung a bright gold emblom reading, "Amor vincit omnia (162)"; or love conquers all. Though her description seems to be pleasant and portray her as pretty and proper questions still arise about her being on the voyage to Canterberry. First, it is rather perculiar that a Prioress (head of her nunnery) would be leaving her nunnery for any reason at all, espessially to voyage with such sundry characters. Also her gold pendant on her green beads reading love conquers all brings interesting thought; since nuns are neither allowed to own wealthy possessions such as gold nor involve themselves in intimacy I wonder why she has the pendant? Is she fleeing her life as a nun? Is she seeking a lover or perhaps finding a previous secret lover? I cannot say but am interested to see where the story takes her.
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ReplyDeleteChaucer’s use of character description as social commentary is never more evident than with the Friar. Hubert the Friar is the sly and corrupt preacher who will sweet talk his way into anything. Chaucer describes him as a smiling, confident man dressed in the finest robes donning the richest jewels. This description is purely a satire on the Catholic church of the time. Friars were nomadic preachers, traveling from place to place spreading the word of God. They were men of the poor and for the poor, designated as beggars by the church to bring the destitute faith and charity. Chaucer’s Friar is nothing of the sort. The Friar is never even seen around the poor. He hangs out with the rich and powerful, weaseling money away from them. He is a master of persuasion. He is very charismatic and is wonderfully talented at receiving donations to the poor, but instead of aiding his people, he embezzles it. The Friar uses his position as a ploy to earn money and then spends it lavishly on expensive robes and jewelry for himself. He also takes money to hear confessions, and no matter how bad the sin or how repentant the sinner is, he always forgives for the right price. The friar is a fraud and a scam artist, using his position in the church to take the money from innocent and unwitting patrons. This situation was all too familiar during Chaucer’s time. The Catholic church was powerful, filled with phony men of God, who desired nothing more than the coin of one’s pocket.
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