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company. Before
the pilgrimage began, Chaucer took time to describe his companions.
The Knight
The Knight is the perfect and genteel man who loved truth, freedom,
chivalry and honor. He was truly a distinguished man. He had ridden
into battle in both Christian and heathen lands and in every instance
served his king well. Despite his valorous deeds, the Knight never boasted
of his actions nor bored his listeners with his feats.
Commentary
The Knight is the most socially prominent person on the journey, and
certain obeisances are paid to him throughout the journey. He tells
the first story and many pilgrims offer him compliments. One fact that
Chaucer's audience would be aware of is that of all the battles the
Knight fought in, none were in the King's secular wars. They were all
religious wars of some nature.
The Squire
The Squire would be a candidate for knighthood. When not in battle,
he thinks of himself as quite a lady's man. He takes meticulous care
of his curly locks (hair) and is somewhat proud of his appearance. He
could ~lso sing lusty songs, compose melodies, write poetry and could
ride a horse with distinction.
The Yeoman
The Yeoman was a servant to the Knight and Squire. He dressed all in
green and was known as an expert woodsman and an excellent shot with
the bow and arrow.
The Prioress
A Prioress named Madame Eglantine was also among the pilgrims. She was
a gentle lady whose greatest oath was "by Sainte Loy." She
was rather well educated, even though her French was not the accepted
Parisian French. She was very coy and delicate. When she ate, she took
great care that no morsel fell from her lips and that no stains were
on her clothes. She was very courteous and amiable and tried to imitate
the manners of the Court. She could not stand pain and would weep to
see a mouse caught in a trap. She had three small hounds with her which
she treated very gently and tenderly. Her dress was very neat and tidy
and she wore a gold brooch with the inscription "amor vinci! omnia."
Commentary
Chaucer's depiction of the Prioress is filled with gentle and subtle
irony. Here is a picture of a lady who happens to be a nun, but she
never forgets that she is a lady first. Her oath, "by Sainte Loy
," implies that she has chosen the most fashionable and handsome
saint who was also famous for his great courtesy. Her emphasis on her
appearance and
[13]
her possessions
(including her three dogs) suggest that she secretly longs for a more
worldly life. Even the inscription "amor vincit omnia (love conquers
all) is a phrase that was used both in religion and also in the many
courtly romances. And the brooch is a piece of lovely jewelry. In general
she would be the ideal head of a girl's finishing school in nineteenth
century America.
Associates of the
Prioress
The Prioress had another nun with her who functioned as her secretary
and also three priests.
Commentary
Two of the three priests will relate tales, and one of these tales (The
tale of Chaunticleer) will prove to be one of the most popular of all
the tales.
The Monk
The Monk was an outrider for his monastery (that is, he was in charge
of the outlying property). He owned several horses furnished with the
finest saddles and bridles. He loved hunting, fine foods and lots of
it; he had several good hunting dogs of which he was very proud. He
dressed in fine clothes, some were even trimmed in fur. He was rather
fat, very jolly and bald headed. His favorite food was a roasted swan.
In general, he favored an outdoor life to that of a closed, indoor existence.
Commentary
Chaucer's art is here demonstrated through his use of irony. While Chaucer
never makes a comment about his characters, he arranges and selects
his material so that the reader can come to a conclusion about the character.
When the monk says that he doesn't approve of the solitary prayerful
existence in a monastery, Chaucer pretends to be convinced that the
Monk's argument is right. But we see that it is right only because this
particular monk tries to justify his non-monastic activities and for
this monk, it is the right existence. Everything that the Monk does
is a violation of his monastic orders. His love of the worldly goods,
food, and pleasures, and his dislike of the quiet monastery contradict
his religious vows.
The Friar
The Friar was a wanton and merry man who had helped many girls get
married after he got them in trouble. When he heard confessions, he
worked under the principle that the penance is best executed by money
rather than
by prayers. So the person contributing the most money received the quick
est and best pardon. The Friar was the type who knew the taverns and
inns
better than he knew the leper houses and the almshouses. Chaucer says
that there was no better man than the Friar when it comes tQ the practice
of his profession. He was always able to get money from people. His
name
was Hubert.
[14]
Commentary
The Friar was a person licensed to hear confessions and to beg fol money.
This Friar used every vicious and immoral method to extraci money from
the parishioners, so when Chaucer says there were none s( good as Hubert
in his profession, he is being ironical. That is, if w(
judge the Friar by how much money he extorted from people, then he i~
a great success. But essentially, this Friar is notoriously evil and
cunning
The Merchant
The Merchant was a member of the rich and powerful rising middlt class.
He is shrewd and knows a good bargain. He talks and looks so soleml
and impressive, and transacts his business in such a stately manner
that fev knew that he was deeply in debt.
The Clerk
The Clerk, who was a student at Oxford, was extremely thin, rode
very thin horse, and his clothes were threadbare because he preferred
tI
buy books rather than clothes and food. He did not talk often, but when
h
did, it was with great dignity and moral virtue.
Commentary
The Clerk was probably working on his M.A. degree with the idea 0
attaining some type of ecclesiastical position. Next to the Knight,
h,
is one of the most admired people on the pilgrimage.
The Sergeant
of Law
The Sergeant of Law was an able attorney who could recall every wor,
and comma of every judgment, a feat which earned him high distinctio
and handsome fees. But he makes people think that he is busier and wise
than he really is. There is an implication that he has perhaps used
his pos tion to attain wealth without ever actually violating the letter
of the law.
The Franklin
The Franklin was a large landowner with a certain amount of wealtl but
he was not of noble birth. He spent his money freely, enjoying goo food,
wine, and company. His house was always open and he was a tru epicurean,
devoting his energies to fine living and was generally liked b the other
pilgrims.
The Haberdasher,
The Dyer, The Carpenter, The Weaver,
and The Carpet Maker
These were men
who belonged to a gild, an organization similiar to fraternity and labor
union. Each was luxuriously dressed in the manner ( his calling, and
each was impressed with his membership in the gild to whic he belonged.
The gildsmen had a cook who was one of the best.
The Cook
The Cook was a master of his trade. He knew how to boil, bake, roast
and fry. But Chaucer thinks it a shame that he had a running sore on
his shin,
[15]
shin, because his
best dish was a creamed chicken pie whose white sauce might be the same
color as the pus from the running sore.
The Shipman
The Shipman was a huge man and somewhat uncouth. He was the master of
a vessel and knew all the ports from the Mediterranean to the Baltic.
He could read the stars and knew how to fight well. But he did not ride
a horse well. He looked like a fish out of water as he sat on his horse.
The Doctor of
Physic
There was no one who could speak so well about medicine as this doctor.
He knew astronomy (astrology) and something of nature and could tell
what humour was responsible for a sickness. But everyone thought he
was in league with the druggist. He could quote all the medical authorities,
but knew nothing of the Bible. He had apparently made a lot of money
during the plague, but doesn't seem to spend it very readily. Since
he prescribes gold for cures, he has a special love for this metal.
The Wife of
Bath
The Wife of Bath was somewhat deaf, but was an excellent seamstress
and weaver. She made a point of being first at the altar or offering
in church. Her kerchiefs must have weighed ten pounds and she wore scarlet
red stockings. She has been married five times and has been on pilgrimages
to Jerusalem, Rome, Bologna, Galice, and Cologne. She was gap-toothed
and rode a horse easily. She enjoyed good fellowship and would readily
laugh and joke. Her special talent was her knowledge of all the remedies
of love.
The Parson
The Parson was very poor, but was rich in holy thoughts and works. He
would rather give his own scarce money to his poor parishioners than
to demand tithes from them. His principle was to live the perfect life
first, and then to teach it. His life was a perfect example of the true
Christian priest, and by his good example, he taught, but first followed
it himself.
Commentary
Amid the worldly clerics and the false and superficial religious adherents,
the poor Parson stands out as the ideal portrait of what a parish priest
should be. The same can be said of the following portrait of the plowman.
He is the ideal Christian man.
The Plowman
The Plowman was a small tenant farmer who lived in perfect peace and
charity. He loved God with all his heart. He was always honest with
his neighbors and promptly paid his tithes to the church.
The Miller
The Miller was a big brawny man who could outwrestle any man (and even
a ram). He was short shouldered, broad and thick set. His red beard
[16]
and a wart on his
nose from which bristly red hairs protruded made him look fearful. He
played the bagpipes as the pilgrims left the town.
The Manciple
The Manciple was a steward fora law school (or dormitory for lawyer:
in London and was in charge of purchasing the food. He was not as learne
as the lawyers, but was so shrewd in buying that he had been able to
pl aside a tidy little sum for himself.
The Reeve
The Reeve was the manager of a large estate. He was a skinny man with
a bad temper. His close cut beard and his short haircut accentuate his
thinness and long legs. He was an able, efficient, and shrewd man who
had reaped rich rewards from his master. The serfs, herdsmen, and worker
feared him dreadfully because of his unrelenting perseverance. Like
the Manciple, he had reaped profits for himself by being so shrewd at
buying. He was once a carpenter and rode last among the group.
Commentary
It is not important to the Reeve's characterization that he is a carpenter,
but Chaucer is anticipating The Reeve's Tale later on. The Miller will
tell a dirty story about a carpenter, and since the Reeve was once,
carpenter, he feels the need for revenge by telling a dirty story about
a miller.
The Summoner
The Summoner (a man paid to summon sinners for a trial before a church
court) had a fire-red complexion, pimples and boils, a scaly infection
around the eyebrows, and a moth-eaten beard. Children were afraid of
his looks. He treats his sores as leprosy. To make matters worse, he
loved to eat garlic, onions, leeks, and drink strong wine. He could
quote a few lines of Latin which he used to impress people. Chaucer
calls him a gentil harlot (genteel fellow) and implies it would be difficult
to find a better fellow, because for a bottle of wine, the Summoner
would often turn his back and let a sinner continue living in sin. He
was also well acquainted with "ladies of questionable reputation."
Commentary
The physical appearance of the Summoner fits his profession well. He
is so ugly and so gruesome looking that a summons from him is in it.
self a horrible experience. Thus, Chaucer ironically implies that he
is a good fellow. But furthermore, he is a good fellow because sinners
could easily bribe him. The reader should be aware of these subtle ironic
statements which are often made in paradoxical situations. '
The Pardoner
The Pardoner was a church official who had authority from Rome to :
sell pardons and indulgences to those charged with sins. He had just
re
turned from Rome with a bagful of pardons which he planned to sell to
the
[17]
at a great profit
to himself. He had a loud, high-pitched voice, yellow, flowing hair,
was beardless and furthermore would never have a beard. Chaucer believes
he was a "gelding or a mare." But there was no one so good
at his profession as was this Pardoner. He knew how to sing and preach
so as to frighten everyone into buying his pardons at a great price.
Commentary
The Pardoner seems to be one of the most corrupt of the churchmen. In
the prologue to his tale, he confesses to his hypocrisy. And furthermore,
Chaucer implies that he is not really a man, that is, that he is either
sexually impotent or perverted.
The Host
The Host, whose name is Harry Bailey, was a merry man who liked good
company and good stories. He was a large jovial person and was well
liked by the pilgrims.
These, then, were
the principal members of the party about to leave for Canterbury. That
evening the Host of Tabard Inn served the company an excellent dinner
after which he suggested that, to make the trip pass more pleasantly,
each member of the party should tell two tales on the way to
Canterbury. On the return trip each member of the company should tell
two more tales. The man who told his story best was to be given a sumptuous
dinner by the other members of the party. The Host added that, to keep
the journey bright and merry, he would accompany them to Canterbury,
and in all things he was to be the judge of what was best for the group.
All members of
the company agreed to his proposal to act as governor of the journey.
Early the next
morning the party departed. Two miles away at St. Thomas-a-Watering,
the Host silenced the group and announced that they would draw straws
to see in which order the tales would be told. The Knight drew the shortest
straw. The Knight agrees to tell the first tale, and here ends the prologue
and begins the first tale.
Commentary
If Chaucer had 90mpleted his original plans, that of each pilgrim telling
two tales going and two coming back, there would have been approximately
120 tales in all.
The Prologue gives
an admirable description of the uncomplicated life of England in the
Middle Ages. Here are portraits of all levels of English life. In this
group Chaucer brings together all of the foibles and virtues of man
and the manners and morals of his time with remarkable clarity.
Throughout The
Prologue, Chaucer alternately praises or chides the travelers with deftly
drawn word portraits which provide insights into the life of his time.
[18]
Before Chaucer,
there were other groups of tales such as Boccacio's Decameron, but never
was there such a diversity of people within the same group. It is then
a stroke of genius that Chaucer uses the device of the religious pilgrimage
to bring together such a diverse group.
The shrine of St.
Thomas a Becket to which the pilgrims are going was reputed to have
great healing qualities. Thus, some of the pilgrims are undoubtedly
going for health rather than religious reasons. For example, The Wife
of Bath was somewhat deaf, The Pardoner was beardless, The Cook had
a sore, The Summoner had boils and other skin trouble, The Miller had
an awful wart on his nose, The Reeve was choleric, etc.
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