Canterbury Tales Character Analysis
In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, many characters go on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. On the way to Canterbury, each person on the journey tells a tale. Whoever tells the best story, gets rewarded a lavish free meal. The pilgrimage includes people from the nobility, clergy, and commoner class. For each class, Chaucer develops many different character types that were representative of the society of the time. With a broad spectrum of people and action, The Canterbury tales consists of many different ideas such as social satire, courtly love/ chivalry,morality, and corruption and deceit. One of the most important ideas of the story is that Chaucer puts forward a criteria that
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virtuous people should live by. Through The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer points out that a virtuous person should be modest, generous, religious, hardworking, and humble through characterization, irony, and humor. Chaucer uses characterization to showcase the qualities that a moral person should have. The way Chaucer describes people gives insight into rather or not he likes or dislikes the character at hand. Thus, Chaucer tells the guidelines for how moral people should be. The three characters that chaucer puts to the uppermost standards are the Parson, Plowman, and Knight. These three, can be considered to be the model for how everyone else should live. In the prologue, the Parson is described as a pastor who is poor, but still is very generous and humble. The text says “ Giving to the poor parishioners round about both from church offerings and his property (15, 498-499).” The Parson would help out the poor people of the church, and give to people even though he did not really have much to give himself. Also instead of saving money for himself, he gave it out to those in need. Later in the text it says “ Holy and virtuous he was, but then never contemptuous of sinful men, never disdainful, never too proud or fine (15, 525- 527).” The Parson did not judge people nor did he let his high status in the church go to his head. Instead of being hateful towards sinners, he remained kind to his people, and never took advantage of the less fortunate. Chaucer admires how the Parson is a humble and generous church man. Likewise, the Parsons brother, the Plowman is a very Chaucer respected character. The Plowman is hardworking, kind, and religious. The prologue states “ An honest worker, good and true, living in peace and charity, as the gospel bade him, so did he (16, 542- 544).” The Plowman would work all day shoveling poop without a single complaint because through his work he was serving God. Also from what he earned working, he would give his earnings to the poor. “ He would help the poor for the love of christ and never take a penny if he could help it (16, 550- 551).” All of the Plowman's’ actions are a product of his loving relationship with God, and as a result the Plowman spreads good to other people. Chaucer honored how the Plowman works hard, and is a follower of christ. Lastly, in addition to the Plowman, there was a great Knight. The narrator of the story said that the Knight was “ A most distinguished man who from the day on which he first began to ride abroad had followed chivalry, truth, honour, generousness, and courtesy (4, 43- 46).” and also said “ he was a true, a perfect gentle- knight (5, 74).” The knight was a fierce warrior who always did well at his job because he genuinely wanted to be a good knight. The Knight was also very modest. “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left marks (5, 77-78).” The knight had just came from battle, and instead of openly showing his glory he remained mysterious and conservative. In general, through the Parson, Plowman, and Knight the same ideas occur over and over again. There are the ideas that people should give, know their roles and be good at what they do, be religious, and not have a big amount of hubris. Chaucer gives the three characters great characteristics and does not say a bad thing about any of them. Chaucer appreciates the kind of people they are, and everyone should behave like them. In contrast, Chaucer uses irony to show what a moral person should not be. When talking about the skipper in the prologue, Chaucer uses verbal irony when the narrator says “ He was an excellent fellow (12, 405).” What the phrase really means is that the Skipper is a murderer and stealer. The prologue claims “ he sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank (13, 410). ” , and “Many a draught of vintage, red and yellow, hard drawn at Bordeaux while the trader snored (12, 406- 407) .” The skipper purposely kills people, and steals the wine he is supposed to be transporting. When Chaucer writes the skipper is a good fellow he is being ironic because stealing and killing in reality is not socially acceptable. Chaucer calls the Skipper a good fellow to really say that he is a bad person, and to call out his faults. Another piece of irony in the story is during the Pardoners’ prologue. Before the Pardoner tells a tale to warn against greed, he openly admits his wrongdoings. The Pardoner proclaims “ I mean to have money,wool, and cheese and wheat though it was given to me by the poorest lad or poorest village widow though she had a string of starving children,all agape (184, 122- 125) .” The pardoner essentially robs the poor so that he can keep up his lavish lifestyle. The pardoner also says “ I preach against the very vice I make my living out of- Avarice (183, 101-102).” and “ And never do an honest job at work (184, 118) .” The pardoner is supposed to help the people beneath him, but instead he uses his church position to get money. The pardoner is very money hungry, and money is all he cares about. The Pardoners’ behavior is ironic in two ways. The first way that the Pardoners words and actions are ironic is because as a holy figure the Pardoner is supposed to do the right thing but yet he lies, cheats, robs, takes advantage of his job, all because he wants money. The second way the pardoners’ words and actions are ironic is because he admits that he does the very thing he preaches against, and still proceeds to tell a story about greed, which proves something bigger about the Pardoner. The Pardoner is a hypocrite, and Chaucer uses the irony in what the Pardoner says and does to call out his ignorance. Chaucer thinks the pardoner is greedy, secular, and hypocritical. Undoubtedly, Chaucer disproves of people who act like the Skipper,and Pardoner. Furthermore, Chaucer also uses humor to identify traits that are undesirable. The Monk is a character who is expected to be very conservative, and follow a strict code. Instead, the Monk is very selfish, and out there. The narrator of the prologue says “Many a dainty horse he had in stable. His bridle when he rode, a man might hear jingling in a whistling wind as clear ( 7, 172- 174).” At this point, Chaucer is poking fun at how flamboyant the monk is when he is supposed to be quiet and to himself. The narrator also says “ He did not rate that text at a plucked hen which says that hunters are not holy men ( 7, 181-182).” and “ That is to say a monk out of his cloister, that was a text he held not worth an oyster (7, 185- 186) .” As a monk, he is not allowed to hunt nor is he really supposed to be seen in the world outside of his religious studies. In both statements, chaucer is hilariously ridiculing the fact that the monk totally ignores the rules, and does what he wants even though as a monk he is required to live by the word of God. Likewise, the Nun is supposed to be very modest but instead she is actually very vain. The narrator says “ No morsel from her lips did she let fall, nor dipped her fingers in sauce too deep (6, 132- 133) .” and “ Whence hung a golden brooch of brightest sheen on which there first was graven a crown A and lower, Amor Vincit Omnia (7, 164- 166).” In both quotes, Chaucer is humorously pointing out how the nun is very focused on how she looks. The prologue also notes “ Pleasant and friendly in her way, and straining to counterfeit a courtly kind of grace (6, 142-143).” As a nun she is not to be worried about how others perceive her.
Instead she is to be modest, and focused on her religious duties in the church. The nun cares way too much about her appearance to be a church figure, and Chaucer discreetly makes fun of her because of it. Lastly, the Squire is meant to be a knight in training who follows the rules of chivalry and honour. The squire is kind of describe as being very pretty. “ He was embroidered like a meadow bright and full of the freshest flowers, red and white (5, 91-92) .” Chaucer is funnily indicating how obsessed the squire is with looking good. The Squire is indeed very vain, in which knights are supposed to have a mysterious kind grace. Not only does chaucer call out the Squires’ vainness, but he also points out the Squires need for love. The prologue says “ He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale he slept as little as a nightingale (5, 99- 100) .” A knight is ordered by the rules of courtly love and chivalry to love women from a very far distance. The woman being adored is to be pure and unobtainable. The squire ignores the rules of courtly love, and instead chooses to love women up close and personal. In general, Chaucer is essentially jokingly hinting that the Squire is a good knight only for love and glorification. The squire is motivated to be a knight for love and not because he truly wants to be a good knight. For that reason the Squire is extremely selfish. Nonetheless, Chaucer approves of people who are not selfish and or
vain. Chaucer created many characters with varying personalities and attributes. Some of the characteristics given by Chaucer are superior in nature while others are unpleasant. Chaucer’s work on The Canterbury Tales puts a spotlight on the qualities that a virtuous moral person should possess. People should follow the behaviors of the Knight, Parson, and Plowman. Together they are all modest, generous, religious, hard working, and humble. They are exactly what virtuous people should be. In comparison, Chaucer uses of elements of satire like irony and humor to identify the ways non virtuous people behave. Based off Chaucer’s work, a non virtuous person is greedy, vain, selfish, and dishonest. The Nun, Squire, Monk, Pardoner, and Skipper all display what virtuous people should not be. All in all, The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer serves as a way to comment on the good, the human, as well as the villainous nature of people in society.
virtuous people should live by. Through The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer points out that a virtuous person should be modest, generous, religious, hardworking, and humble through characterization, irony, and humor. Chaucer uses characterization to showcase the qualities that a moral person should have. The way Chaucer describes people gives insight into rather or not he likes or dislikes the character at hand. Thus, Chaucer tells the guidelines for how moral people should be. The three characters that chaucer puts to the uppermost standards are the Parson, Plowman, and Knight. These three, can be considered to be the model for how everyone else should live. In the prologue, the Parson is described as a pastor who is poor, but still is very generous and humble. The text says “ Giving to the poor parishioners round about both from church offerings and his property (15, 498-499).” The Parson would help out the poor people of the church, and give to people even though he did not really have much to give himself. Also instead of saving money for himself, he gave it out to those in need. Later in the text it says “ Holy and virtuous he was, but then never contemptuous of sinful men, never disdainful, never too proud or fine (15, 525- 527).” The Parson did not judge people nor did he let his high status in the church go to his head. Instead of being hateful towards sinners, he remained kind to his people, and never took advantage of the less fortunate. Chaucer admires how the Parson is a humble and generous church man. Likewise, the Parsons brother, the Plowman is a very Chaucer respected character. The Plowman is hardworking, kind, and religious. The prologue states “ An honest worker, good and true, living in peace and charity, as the gospel bade him, so did he (16, 542- 544).” The Plowman would work all day shoveling poop without a single complaint because through his work he was serving God. Also from what he earned working, he would give his earnings to the poor. “ He would help the poor for the love of christ and never take a penny if he could help it (16, 550- 551).” All of the Plowman's’ actions are a product of his loving relationship with God, and as a result the Plowman spreads good to other people. Chaucer honored how the Plowman works hard, and is a follower of christ. Lastly, in addition to the Plowman, there was a great Knight. The narrator of the story said that the Knight was “ A most distinguished man who from the day on which he first began to ride abroad had followed chivalry, truth, honour, generousness, and courtesy (4, 43- 46).” and also said “ he was a true, a perfect gentle- knight (5, 74).” The knight was a fierce warrior who always did well at his job because he genuinely wanted to be a good knight. The Knight was also very modest. “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left marks (5, 77-78).” The knight had just came from battle, and instead of openly showing his glory he remained mysterious and conservative. In general, through the Parson, Plowman, and Knight the same ideas occur over and over again. There are the ideas that people should give, know their roles and be good at what they do, be religious, and not have a big amount of hubris. Chaucer gives the three characters great characteristics and does not say a bad thing about any of them. Chaucer appreciates the kind of people they are, and everyone should behave like them. In contrast, Chaucer uses irony to show what a moral person should not be. When talking about the skipper in the prologue, Chaucer uses verbal irony when the narrator says “ He was an excellent fellow (12, 405).” What the phrase really means is that the Skipper is a murderer and stealer. The prologue claims “ he sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank (13, 410). ” , and “Many a draught of vintage, red and yellow, hard drawn at Bordeaux while the trader snored (12, 406- 407) .” The skipper purposely kills people, and steals the wine he is supposed to be transporting. When Chaucer writes the skipper is a good fellow he is being ironic because stealing and killing in reality is not socially acceptable. Chaucer calls the Skipper a good fellow to really say that he is a bad person, and to call out his faults. Another piece of irony in the story is during the Pardoners’ prologue. Before the Pardoner tells a tale to warn against greed, he openly admits his wrongdoings. The Pardoner proclaims “ I mean to have money,wool, and cheese and wheat though it was given to me by the poorest lad or poorest village widow though she had a string of starving children,all agape (184, 122- 125) .” The pardoner essentially robs the poor so that he can keep up his lavish lifestyle. The pardoner also says “ I preach against the very vice I make my living out of- Avarice (183, 101-102).” and “ And never do an honest job at work (184, 118) .” The pardoner is supposed to help the people beneath him, but instead he uses his church position to get money. The pardoner is very money hungry, and money is all he cares about. The Pardoners’ behavior is ironic in two ways. The first way that the Pardoners words and actions are ironic is because as a holy figure the Pardoner is supposed to do the right thing but yet he lies, cheats, robs, takes advantage of his job, all because he wants money. The second way the pardoners’ words and actions are ironic is because he admits that he does the very thing he preaches against, and still proceeds to tell a story about greed, which proves something bigger about the Pardoner. The Pardoner is a hypocrite, and Chaucer uses the irony in what the Pardoner says and does to call out his ignorance. Chaucer thinks the pardoner is greedy, secular, and hypocritical. Undoubtedly, Chaucer disproves of people who act like the Skipper,and Pardoner. Furthermore, Chaucer also uses humor to identify traits that are undesirable. The Monk is a character who is expected to be very conservative, and follow a strict code. Instead, the Monk is very selfish, and out there. The narrator of the prologue says “Many a dainty horse he had in stable. His bridle when he rode, a man might hear jingling in a whistling wind as clear ( 7, 172- 174).” At this point, Chaucer is poking fun at how flamboyant the monk is when he is supposed to be quiet and to himself. The narrator also says “ He did not rate that text at a plucked hen which says that hunters are not holy men ( 7, 181-182).” and “ That is to say a monk out of his cloister, that was a text he held not worth an oyster (7, 185- 186) .” As a monk, he is not allowed to hunt nor is he really supposed to be seen in the world outside of his religious studies. In both statements, chaucer is hilariously ridiculing the fact that the monk totally ignores the rules, and does what he wants even though as a monk he is required to live by the word of God. Likewise, the Nun is supposed to be very modest but instead she is actually very vain. The narrator says “ No morsel from her lips did she let fall, nor dipped her fingers in sauce too deep (6, 132- 133) .” and “ Whence hung a golden brooch of brightest sheen on which there first was graven a crown A and lower, Amor Vincit Omnia (7, 164- 166).” In both quotes, Chaucer is humorously pointing out how the nun is very focused on how she looks. The prologue also notes “ Pleasant and friendly in her way, and straining to counterfeit a courtly kind of grace (6, 142-143).” As a nun she is not to be worried about how others perceive her.
Instead she is to be modest, and focused on her religious duties in the church. The nun cares way too much about her appearance to be a church figure, and Chaucer discreetly makes fun of her because of it. Lastly, the Squire is meant to be a knight in training who follows the rules of chivalry and honour. The squire is kind of describe as being very pretty. “ He was embroidered like a meadow bright and full of the freshest flowers, red and white (5, 91-92) .” Chaucer is funnily indicating how obsessed the squire is with looking good. The Squire is indeed very vain, in which knights are supposed to have a mysterious kind grace. Not only does chaucer call out the Squires’ vainness, but he also points out the Squires need for love. The prologue says “ He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale he slept as little as a nightingale (5, 99- 100) .” A knight is ordered by the rules of courtly love and chivalry to love women from a very far distance. The woman being adored is to be pure and unobtainable. The squire ignores the rules of courtly love, and instead chooses to love women up close and personal. In general, Chaucer is essentially jokingly hinting that the Squire is a good knight only for love and glorification. The squire is motivated to be a knight for love and not because he truly wants to be a good knight. For that reason the Squire is extremely selfish. Nonetheless, Chaucer approves of people who are not selfish and or
vain. Chaucer created many characters with varying personalities and attributes. Some of the characteristics given by Chaucer are superior in nature while others are unpleasant. Chaucer’s work on The Canterbury Tales puts a spotlight on the qualities that a virtuous moral person should possess. People should follow the behaviors of the Knight, Parson, and Plowman. Together they are all modest, generous, religious, hard working, and humble. They are exactly what virtuous people should be. In comparison, Chaucer uses of elements of satire like irony and humor to identify the ways non virtuous people behave. Based off Chaucer’s work, a non virtuous person is greedy, vain, selfish, and dishonest. The Nun, Squire, Monk, Pardoner, and Skipper all display what virtuous people should not be. All in all, The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer serves as a way to comment on the good, the human, as well as the villainous nature of people in society.