Friar In The Canterbury Tales
Characterization and Analysis of the Friar in Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”
Rebecca Souza
British Literature I
Professor Halpern
26 September 2014 The “Frere” or Friar, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, presents a complex character blah blah. tie in deceit The Friar is immediately introduced as a “wantowne and a merye” man (The General Prologue, 208). His portrait begins with pleasantness.. As his portrait is revealed line by line, we find that he is a charming man, “solempne” (209), full of “daliaunce and fair langage” (211), and well-acquainted with the rich landholders and noble women in his region. He has the right to hear confessions and does so with sweetness, pleasantly giving his absolution …show more content…
It is added that free-flowing may be his penance, as long as there was a pittance to match it. The narrator quickly makes amends, however, by explaining the Friar’s reasoning: surely a truly repentant man would give freely to a poor servant of God. A few lines afterwards, we learn of the Friar’s other redeeming qualities. He is a talented singer and musician, is as strong “as a champioun” (239), and knew the people of the town worthy of his time—that is, the tavern keepers, innkeepers, and barmaids. The narrator then makes it clear that the Friar wishes to have nothing to do with those not esteemed enough to be in association with him, specifically the poor and sickly. This stark contrast with St. Augustine's founding mission towards those same people and only highlights the Friar’s inconsistency in his role as a religious figure. When the narrator claims the Friar as “the beste beggere in his hous” (251), this time he is not slow to say …show more content…
Through the adoring description of the Friar and the hasty explanations of his questionable actions, it is clear that the narrator wishes to emphasize the character’s self-presentation. When it is pointed out that the Friar gives penance more easily with the expectation of a gift, it is immediately followed with a defense; giving money “Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive” (226) as the Friar “dorste make avaunt” (227). It is significant that this justification comes from the Friar’s own words. The contrast between the Friar’s self-serving actions and his outward appearance could be an attempt to capture the Friar’s personal voice in a presentation of himself. Perhaps Chaucer the fellow pilgrim recognizes the wealth and status of the Friar and doesn’t wish to outright slander an upperclass noble. Or, perhaps Chaucer the writer wishes to describe the Friar as he would himself, while using a thin layer of irony as a way to show his true lack of morality.Whether it’s the Friar influence on his own portrayal, or Chaucer’s attempt to preserve some sense of morality in an esteemed religious figure, is
Rebecca Souza
British Literature I
Professor Halpern
26 September 2014 The “Frere” or Friar, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, presents a complex character blah blah. tie in deceit The Friar is immediately introduced as a “wantowne and a merye” man (The General Prologue, 208). His portrait begins with pleasantness.. As his portrait is revealed line by line, we find that he is a charming man, “solempne” (209), full of “daliaunce and fair langage” (211), and well-acquainted with the rich landholders and noble women in his region. He has the right to hear confessions and does so with sweetness, pleasantly giving his absolution …show more content…
It is added that free-flowing may be his penance, as long as there was a pittance to match it. The narrator quickly makes amends, however, by explaining the Friar’s reasoning: surely a truly repentant man would give freely to a poor servant of God. A few lines afterwards, we learn of the Friar’s other redeeming qualities. He is a talented singer and musician, is as strong “as a champioun” (239), and knew the people of the town worthy of his time—that is, the tavern keepers, innkeepers, and barmaids. The narrator then makes it clear that the Friar wishes to have nothing to do with those not esteemed enough to be in association with him, specifically the poor and sickly. This stark contrast with St. Augustine's founding mission towards those same people and only highlights the Friar’s inconsistency in his role as a religious figure. When the narrator claims the Friar as “the beste beggere in his hous” (251), this time he is not slow to say …show more content…
Through the adoring description of the Friar and the hasty explanations of his questionable actions, it is clear that the narrator wishes to emphasize the character’s self-presentation. When it is pointed out that the Friar gives penance more easily with the expectation of a gift, it is immediately followed with a defense; giving money “Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive” (226) as the Friar “dorste make avaunt” (227). It is significant that this justification comes from the Friar’s own words. The contrast between the Friar’s self-serving actions and his outward appearance could be an attempt to capture the Friar’s personal voice in a presentation of himself. Perhaps Chaucer the fellow pilgrim recognizes the wealth and status of the Friar and doesn’t wish to outright slander an upperclass noble. Or, perhaps Chaucer the writer wishes to describe the Friar as he would himself, while using a thin layer of irony as a way to show his true lack of morality.Whether it’s the Friar influence on his own portrayal, or Chaucer’s attempt to preserve some sense of morality in an esteemed religious figure, is