The Philosophical Beliefs of Geoffrey Chaucer: Why has Chaucer's works been kept alive for so long? What are his beliefs?

Geoffrey Chaucer's works have been studied and kept alive throughout the centuries. The reason Chaucer has had such an effect on the world is because of his unique ability to reveal the truth. Chaucer "unmasked" and "unveiled" the social structures and commonly accepted philosophies that people have relied on as being true. This theme especially applies to the hypocrisies based upon Christianity and the 14th century Roman Church. Besides for ingeniously showing the corruption found in Christianity, Chaucer becomes a pre-cursor and foreshadows the conservative and liberal movements found in the 20th century. These ideals have helped give Chaucer the reputation as the father of English Poetry.

The philosophy behind Christianity is to gain a higher spirituality, and be elevated over material things. Chaucer reveals a Church based upon corruption and immorality. Chaucer views Christianity as it is viewed today, a vehicle to transport someone to a "higher spiritual plane". Chaucer first starts exposing the corruption straight from the prologue. Regarding the Nun, Chaucer explains her interest in jewelry and looking exquisite "She wore a coral trinket on her arm, a set of beads, the gaudies trickled in green, Whence hung a golden brooch of brighteset sheen" (Prologue). Concerning the Monk, It is written how highly he valued hunting and horses over spirituality "Who rode the country; hunting was his sport" (Prologue). Regarding the Friar, Chaucer explains in detail, his passion with women, drinking, and worldly things "Highly beloved and intimate was he with country folk within his boundary, and city dames of honour and possession... He knew the taverns well in every town and every innkeeper and barmaid too" (Prologue). Pertaining to the Pardoner and the Summoner Chaucer revealed their diabolical scheme to seize the money of a simpleton. The Summoner would inform people of their "sins". The Pardoner would absolve them for a sizable fee. Their entire lives were filled with corruption. "Why, he'd allow-just for a quart of wine any good lad to keep a concubine" (Prologue).

For Centuries people have used their lineage to obtain honor and respect, even if it is not deserved. Chaucer reveals the foolishness of this philosophy, by showing that people could have a great pedigree but at the same time be very unrefined. "They knew his lecherous bent, and so it was the people had arisen. They took the judge and cast him into prison"(Pg. 257). However, Chaucer is quick to shows the importance of being chivalric. "Tell me, what sort of fellows may you be that have the impudence to combat here without a judge or other overseer yet as if jousting at a royal tilt" (Pg. 65) "My dear brother each of you did as nobly as the other... Sir, I release you of your thousand pound no less than if you'd crept out of the ground just now, and never had to do with me. I will not take a penny" (Pg. 450)

Regarding the themes of love and marriage, Chaucer again unveils the idiocy of the conservative Christian view. The Church has taught that the key to a good marriage relies upon the man being the master of his household, and the wife being submissive to her husband's wishes. Chaucer teaches that a good marriage is only possible when love is present and the wife has mastery over her husband. Chaucer's view is the philosophy that is commonly seen today with the women's movement, and the saying "a happy wife, a happy life". "We cannot love a husband who takes charge of where we go. We like to be at large"(Wife of Bath's Prologue) "A woman wants the self-same sovereignty over her husband as over her lover, and master him; he must not be above her" (Wife of Bath's Tale). Furthermore, The presence of a woman who loves you, is the solution for all of life's problems "That woman is man's helper, his resort, his earthly paradise and his disport... How can a man be subject to affliction who has a wife? Indeed I cannot say". (Merchant's Tale) The Christian faith is based upon the belief of the "Virgin Mary". The Church has taught virginity is the epitome of morality and righteousness. Chaucer exposes the contradictions in these Christian ideals. He agrees that virginity is noble, but he does not understand how Christianity can be continued without procreation. In addition, the amount of virgins in today's times is very insignificant. "Chaste of her body and her soul was she, and so she flowed in her virginity with all humility and abstinence in temperance and patient innocence, with modesty of bearing and of dress and showed in speech a modesty no less." (Physician's Tale) "I'll never say a word decrying maidenhood although preferred to frequent marriage... Tell me to what conclusion or in aid of what were generative organs made? And for what profit were those creatures wrought? Trust me, they cannot have been for naught... that they were only made for the purgation of urine, little things of no avail except to know a female from a male" (Wife of Bath's Prologue)

In Conclusion, throughout The Canterbury Tales Chaucer has revealed the falsification behind the many commonly accepted beliefs that people have based their lives upon. Chaucer shows this to us through the themes of Christianity, Marriage, and Virginity. Chaucer constantly ridicules and destroys the ethics of Christianity. He raises questions regarding his own religious beliefs through the characters found in the tales. Chaucer seems to inform us of his own dilemma, how can G-d exist while the church is completely filled with corruption. "O cruel G-Ds, whose government binds all the world to you eternal bent, and writes upon an adamantine table... (Knight's Tale) However, in Chaucer's Retractions, Chaucer makes it adamantly clear of his tremendous belief in G-D. "Wherefore I beseech you meekly for the mercy of G-D to pray for me, that Christ may have mercy on me and forgive me for my sins". The irony throughout Chaucer's life is obvious. He based his life on discovering the truth in the world surrounding him, and yet through the majority of his life, he had no idea if G-d really existed. Regardless, What is the reason for Chaucer's sudden realization? The truth behind Chaucer's sudden change in beliefs will probably never be known. However, I will speculate on some of the probable reasons. It is possible after a lifetime of denial, Chaucer suddenly realized he was about to die, and truly discovered G-D. However, I personally think Chaucer discovered that just because the clergy of the church is corrupt, that does not mean the religion itself is corrupt.