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Doctors Tale in Canterbury Tales

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Doctors Tale in Canterbury Tales
My Preference of The Doctor’s Tale

The tale that I selected to read was the astronomy practicing Physician. This story of love, in hatred and bigotry was extremely interesting to read however, on the same note the wording was tremendously derived in Middle English tone which made a few sections difficult to understand and comprehend. The non-bible reading doctor’s tale is interesting from beginning to end, he paints a vivid picture of all his characters and there attributes using immense direct and indirect characterization. The strong connection of injustice and segregation of the lower classes made the tale even more appealing to read because the story helped me envision what the world around the pilgrims was like during these times. From line to line his style and wording made the poem flow beautifully enriching the story as the account continued. One distinct aspect about this tale which truly made me be fond of the story has to be the amazing way the Doctor used characterization to develop his characters. For instance, when depicting Sir Viginius’s daughter Virginia the Physician used nature promptly in the spectacular woman’s description, “It seems that Nature thus would say. This maid was fourteen years of age, this may. In whom Dame Nature had so great delight. For just as she can paint a lily white or even redden a rose, even with such a stroke. She did this creature by her art evoke.” These lines indirectly show the readers of how majestic and lovely Virginia was in all her splendor. Another feature that the prefect practicing Physician as Chaucer calls him uses to describe Virginia is by explaining how she acquired her unfeigned beauty using symbolism. For example, “And Phoebus dyed her long hair with such magnanimous gold as have his burning streamers manifold.” Phoebus was the sun God of the Greeks and the Doctor uses his symbolism to make his audience understand how radiant, bright, and wondrously gold Virginuis’s daughter’s hair truly is.

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