Analysis of Two Characters in Canterbury Tales
In 1386, Geoffrey Chaucer began writing The Canterbury Tales, which he worked on until his death in 1400. His original goal was to write four tales for each of the twenty-nine pilgrims making the journey to Canterbury, a total of 116 stories. However, the undertaking proved too great a task, and only twenty-four stories, four of them incomplete, remain intact today. Nonetheless, far from being considered a failure, The Canterbury Tales is hailed as one of the finest pieces of literature produced in the Middle Ages. It is also taken to be one of the most unique. In the words of Professor Lee Patterson, "Chaucer is not only interested in the drearily medieval topics of his contemporaries but he is interested in the topic that has become, for us, the quintessential and defining mark of the modern. In literary terms we call this topic character." This opinion is corroborated by Chaucer himself in his exposition when he informs the reader that, "It seems to me accordant with reason to inform you of the state of every one of all these [characters], as it appeared to me, and who they were, and what was their degree, and even how arrayed there at the inn." The Prioress and the Friar are two of the characters introduced in the General Prol
Similar to the nun, the Friar’s character does not correspond to the archetypal interpretation of what he should be. Contrary to the frugal, conscientious model of a Franciscan, this Friar, identified as Hubert, is described as "wanton and merry." Throughout the passage, Chaucer insinuates that Hubert is more concerned with material wealth than with his position as a servant of God. The reader is informed that "He was an easy man to give penance, when knowing he should gain a good pittance; for to a begging friar, money given is sign that any man has been well shriven." The Friar has developed an excellent rapport with the wealthy men and women in his district. He provides them with artificial spiritual comfort, and they furnish him with the silver he needs to indulge in his love of luxury. In this way, he abuses his status in the church for personal gain. Although St. Francis, the prototype for begging friars, ministered specifically to the destitute lepers, Hubert chooses to ignore them because, "there is no honest advantageousness in dealing with such poverty-stricken curs." This opinion makes it evident that he redefines his occupation to comply with his desires. Instead of humbly serving God where there is need, Hubert elects to serve God where there is money to be gained. He also doesn’t pretend to be concerned with this perversion of his religious role, as Chaucer illustrates with the lines, "For at confessing he’d more power in gown (as he himself said) than in good curate." Hubert does very little to hide his ill-earned affluence, dressing "like a lord, or like a pope. Of double worsted was his semi-cope," despite a vow of poverty. However, it appears unlikely that he will be chastised for his transgressions, as Chaucer points out that none of his fell
Some topics in this essay:
Madam Eglantine,
God Hubert,
Prioress Friar,
Franciscan Friar,
Nevertheless Chaucer,
Canterbury Tales,
Patterson Chaucer,
St Francis,
Francis Assisi,
Franciscan Friars,
madam eglantine,
religious figures,
prioress friar,
canterbury tales,
middle ages,
st francis,
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Approximate Word count = 1200
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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