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Kelly’s Notes: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
2014-2015 4th period
Squire (104-105)
A young man who acts as an apprentice to a Knight so he can later become
one himself.
Description: Chaucer makes the squire out to be what we would call a pretty or
preppy boy. A handsome gentleman probably in his twenties, well dressed, with had
a head full of nice hair. The Squire as a character has a feminine side to him and his
clothing is embroidered with floral emblems.
Character: After the description of his noble father, The Squire is introduced. The
Squire is not like his father nor the other knights, he doesn't have that mean edge to
him. Instead he is dresses with a feminine touch, suffers from insomnia, and cares
strongly about his appearance. During the 100 years , while fighting in France
many men fought for dignity and pride: However Chaucer’s Squire’s motivation to
fight comes from his desire of women and strong belief that these women will admire
him because he is a Knight. Chaucer created a character whose lust for women is so
intense that it causes sleeping issues. Even though Chaucer describes this
character as what seems to be a preppy prince, he does have a few skilled
talents. The squire can sing, dance, carve meat, and ride horses especially
well. Overall Chaucer created the James Bond of knights, clean, good-looking, all
about the ladies, and very talented.
Prioress (105-7)
Description: Chaucer uses the prioress’ physical appearance as a contrast to
her spiritual appearance. The prioress, a nun ranked next below head nun,
shows off her physical appearance and takes pride in her body and manners.
She is described as wearing an elegant veil and charming trinkets. She adorns
lipstick and a fair forehead.
Character: The Prioress, even though she is next below head nun, is more fit for
court life than the life a nun lives. She takes pride in her physical appearance and
table manners. The prioress dresses in an elegant manner and wears beautiful
trinkets. Going along with her favor of elegant dress she professes to St. Loy. St
Loy is the patron saint of jewelry and is known for his looks and fanciful attire.
She also shows off her body even going so far as to show her forehead, the most
beautiful part of a woman’s body at the time. The prioress breaks from the
standards set by the nunnery by owning dogs. Nuns are not allowed to keep
pets, but she gives her charity to any animals she crosses on their way to
Canterbury. Although she only breaks from the standards set by the nunnery in
small ways, they all affect her overall appearance to the reader. Although the
Prioress is next below head nun, she likes to show off her figure and act more
court like than nun like.
Critical note by Evan Hillen
The Monk (107-8)
Description: The Monk is a heavy-set man. His eyes bulge and his face as well as
his bald head shine with the look of grease. He wears grey-furred clothing with a
hood and garnished sleeves. Upon his hood, there lies a gold fashioned lover’s knot.
Character: The Monk would be thought to be a religious man since he is the head
of the monastery and is meant to have a cloistered, retired or secluded, persona.
However, this monk spends his time hunting both animals and women, two strongly
forbidden actions a man of monastic vows must not do. He “hunted the hare”, a
symbolic meaning representing the give and chase of sexual desires back in the
Middle Ages. The three key elements for someone with monastic vows are: study,
work, and prayer. Although for this man, the monk is rather ill-suited to religious
life. He does not take his role as a prelate and faithful man seriously, his vows seem
insignificant based off of his actions.
The Monk (107-108)
Description: The monk is fat, bald, and greasy. Chaucer tells us that the monk is a
manly man. He has eyes that roll in his head, which indicates a lust for women. He
wears a robe unlike the robes of other monks.
Character: The Monk in the Canterbury Tales is no ordinary monk. He likes to hunt
hares and ride horses instead of studying, praying, and working. The rules of the
monastery state that monks shouldn’t hunt or be reckless and they shouldn’t leave the
monastery. Instead, they should study and perform manual labor. The Monk ignores
these rules. A normal monk will wear a plain robe with a hood. The Monk wears a robe
with gray fur on the sleeves and he has a gold pin with a love knot. Most likely, he
didn’t want to become a monk but he likes the monastery since it provides a cloistered
environment, separating them from the betrayal of people and women.
Critical note by Kelsey Hutchinson
THE FRIAR (108-9)
Description: The Friar is dressed in clothes that are far to flattering for a usual friar, such
as a semi-cope. It is important to note what the Friar is wearing because it indirectly
reveals his abuse of his wealth and power. His neck was “whiter than a lily flower”
Character: Although a member of a religious order, the Friar violates his vows of
poverty, obedience, and chastity. Instead of being devoted to Christ, he is more so
devoted to lust and greed. He is a Limiter, which explains why he is on the Pilgrimage in
the first place. Being a limiter means he travels from place to place begging for
contribution for his order. Today, that is the equivalent of raising money for a charitable
cause. Begging for the money is technically fine, except for the fact that he doesn't give
all of the raised money to his religious order, and instead keeps most for himself so he
can have more luxurious clothes and to enjoy the tavern. Another way he abuses his
power is by asking for some type of donation in exchange for penance (Being forgiven
for your sins). He goes on about how he is extremely qualified to hold confessions so
that more people will come to him, even if it is for a price. He most likely has a side
business of selling “pins” and “pocket knives” to women. In addition to greed, he is also
caught up in lust. He “smooth talks” women and helps them find marriages, not out of
kindness, but because he impregnates them. He admits that he enjoys the company of
wealthy, higher class people (innkeepers, barmaids, etc.) more so than lepers and
beggars, which in medieval times was considered going against his devotion to Christ.
The Friar (108-109)
Description: In appearance, looking more like a doctor or pope than a friar, it is known
that this friar is not a beggar and helper of the poor like he is supposed to be. He wears
double-worsted cloth around his shoulders, a harp by his side and a voice that can make
any person give him what he wants. He is a person who manipulates his way through life
using religion and his license granted by the Pope to live a life of luxury and lax.
Character: The Friar is a character who does not associate himself with the poor and
needy like he is supposed to. He will, of course, shrive people of their sin for the right
price. This man uses his talents to persuade people to give him what he wants, even if
they give him their last farthing. He can sing well, play the harp, use his license to shrive
people of their sins who can pay him, and can find women (whom he had slept with) a
husband very quickly. He even uses the money that he gets for “doing his job” to buy
women trinkets. The Friar states that he does not hang around with the poor and destitute,
for nothing good comes out of those people. He will only hang around the rich and where
money can be found. This character is just another satirical fraud added to The
Canterbury Tales to show what was wrong in Chaucer’s society.
Critical note by Cole Meitzler
In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, he uses the Merchant to symbolize money
and commerce. He is like the common day traveling salesman; buying, selling,
trading and bargaining goods on the Harwich-Holland range (North Sea shipping
lanes between Harwich, an english port, and Holland). He does this mostly in an
attempt to make some money as most merchants would do right? The Merchant,
we learn, is a seemingly wealthy man who dresses in very motley, or colorful,
and stylish clothing. However the truth is, is that the merchant is ironically in debt.
Although he is good enough to cleverly hide his debt from everyone, this is
undermined by the narrator knowing of it. The narrator would like to say how
great of a person he was but the Merchant hasn’t even told anyone his name.
The government obviously knows of his name and perhaps doesn’t know of his
occupation as the Merchant. Keeping those two identities separate keeps him
from being linked with his debt.
The Clerk of Oxenford (110)
Description:
Chaucer describes the clerk as an early “starving college student” with hollow
cheeks and a skinny body. He wakes up early to attend lectures and then has a few hours
in the afternoon to rest then he goes to a lecture in the afternoon. He would much rather
read and learn than eat. Mostly, because he would rather spend his money on philosophy
books than the ‘robes riches.’
Character:
The Clerk of Oxenford is defined by his strict intelligence. He is skinny because
he would rather spend money on books than food, this also represents his mind as being
the weight of his body. His life revolves around his education and his overall philosophy
of wealth in the form of his education. He is motivated by books and learning. His
obsession with books is emphasized by his disinterest with the world of riches and
material possessions. The clerk only associates himself with the intellectuals and his
studies. Whenever he speaks, it is meaningful and sincere, because he does not want to
waste time on “idle chatter.” Chaucer uses the Clerk of Oxenford to represent the
determination of intelligence and an overall drive of learning by the lines, “Gladly would
he learn and gladly teach.” The clerk does not receive a preferment, or money from the
church because was not worldly enough to translate books like other monks. This is a
relatively negative view of students because he is emaciated and going without the
normal things that would be important to a man in the middle ages. Yet, the clerk is not
‘worldly’ enough to live the life of a monk, which would be the best career for him.
Critical Note by Katherine O’Neil
Chaucer’s Lawyer is very similar to a lawyer of today’s time. The Sergeant at
Law is described at “discreet” and “rote” in his practice. To say the lawyer is
discreet and rote suggests that he is careful in his judgment through speech and
action and follow a habitual routine in his practice. In line 336, Chaucer goes as
far to say that no one would dare question the Sergeant at Law’s words, so
people believed whatever he said due to his highly position. Physically, the
Sergeant at Law is described as wearing a “homely parti-colored coat,” a “girt”,
and a “silken belt of pin-stripe stuff.” Following in today’s stereotype of lawyers,
Chaucer’s Sergeant at Law was also well dressed. In reading Chaucer’s overall
description of the Lawyer, it is clear that Chaucer believes he receives more
credit than is due for his work. Chaucer writes that the Sergeant at Law always
looks busier than he is, suggesting that he may actually be less knowledgeable
and hard-working than people think.
The Franklin (111-112)
A Franklin is a freeman (not a serf or a noble) landowner
Description: a lavishly dressed man who has a sanguine (cheerful) expression and
a beard as white as a daisy
Character: The Franklin appears to be a wealthy, generous landowner who has an
unlimited capacity for hospitality. This franklin is very well established and occupies
a dignified position judging by his many public offices (sheriff, pleader in court,
member of parliament, presider of trials). At first impression, The Franklin easily fits
into a type: a man of “good stomake” who loves good food and companionship. He
takes merriment in the substantial pleasures of life. However, upon looking more
closely at The Franklin’s character, his true nature is a hedonist becomes apparent.
Chaucer compares him to Epicurus, implying that his happiness is based upon the
sensualistic and voluptuary. He has nearly unlimited supplies of food: “it snowed in
his house of food and drink ” which he lets anyone consume freely. Because of this
generosity, The Franklin is seen as another Saint Julian (the patron saint of
hospitality). However, this hospitality is not fueled by good natured compassion but
by his real obsession with physical pleasure. His happiness is based on his
consumption of food and other worldly pleasures that distract from one’s spiritual life.
Because of this obsession, The Franklin can be seen as the representation of one of
the seven deadly sins: gluttony.
The Guildsmen (112)
Description: The guildsmen were five men that belonged to a single group, or
fraternity, each with their own specific job or trade. Chaucer describes the men as capable
of being burgesses (Mayors) or aldermen (representatives), a job for sophisticated men on
the rise. He uses these examples of aldermen for other characters, to describe mundanity
and the upcoming middle class.
Character: The Five Guildsmen were of the middle class, each having their own
trade that they belong; The haberdasher, a hat maker, the carpenter, arras-maker (Curtain
maker), dyer, and a weaver. There is little description about them and though they may
seem like individuals, Chaucer groups them together as “one sober, great fraternity.”
They represent the rising middle class, as Chaucer describes the men were all “clothed in
similar livery” and that their weapons were made with silver signifying their growing
wealth.
The Cook (9)
Description: The cook has one of the shortest parts in the Canterbury Tales.
Therefore there isn’t that much information to reveal. He is connected mostly with
the five Guildsmen.
Character: The cook works for the five Guildsmen which are the Carpenter,
Haberdasher, Weaver, Dyer, and Tapestry-Maker. He seethes his food which
means to boil in a liquid, which gives the description or characteristics of a
unsanitized person. The fact that the Cook knew about London ale by its flavor
suggests that the Cook has an ample amount of knowledge in the field of culinary
arts. The cook has an ulcer located on his knee. An ulcer is an open wound on
an external or internal surface of the body, caused by a break in the skin or
mucous membrane that fails to heal. The cook’s ulcer reminds Chaucer of
blancmange because Chaucer believes that the ulcer resembles
blancmange(white gelatinous pudding), which makes us not want to eat the
pudding. Anything the cook makes is put-off because of the whole idea that the
kitchen is ridden with a huge, puss-filled sore.
Critical Note by Jackie Tammaro
THE SHIPMAN
Description: Chaucer's Shipman/Skipper is a burly, dark-skinned sea-captain from a
town in the west of Britain called Dartmouth. He has sailed all over Britain and Spain. He
wears a laniard with a dagger on it. He is seen riding some breed of farming horse rather
than one appropriate for a mount. His ship is called the "Maudelayne". The Skipper is
often seen stealing wine from the host when he isn't looking.
Character: Much like the stereotypical pirate, Chaucer's Skipper is a man as tough as the
waves. It is possible that his hometown of "Dartmouth" is a pun reflecting his rough
character and sharp words. Based on his work, it seems that the Skipper is a better
shipman than he is a horseman, for Chaucer writes that he "rode a farming horse the
best he could." This indicates that he is not as knowledgable about the land then he is
the sea. If he knew better, he would've rented a horse bred for riding than a stocky
work-horse. He is a master of the waves, having been all over the waterways of Britain
and Spain. He knows how to calculate the size of waves and knows how to properly dock
his ship. The personality of the Skipper is best illustrated by the name of his ship.
"Maudelayne" is French for Magdalene. In Catholicism, St. Mary Magdalene is the
patron saint of repentant sinners. In the New Testament, she was a follower of Jesus of
Nazareth and many modern scholars believe that she was a prostitute. She was a sinner
in the eyes of the Jewish community but Christians believe her to have been very pious,
recognizing the divinity of Jesus. This is very much like the Shipman's character; he
might be religious but he is still a criminal. The Skipper is known to kill anyone that he
gets in a fight with by making them walk the plank. His value to society as an
experienced sea-captain is in contrast with his crimes including murder and theft Like his
preferred saint, the Shipman has no intention on changing his way of life anytime soon,
hence the imagery of the repentant sinner par excellence.
THE DOCTOR (113-114) Erykah Benitez
Description: Chaucer often used physical description to reveal character; he has a slight
focus on The Doctor’s physical appearance towards the end of his story to convey The
Doctor’s transgressions. His garments were blood-shed red with splashes of bluish grey
and they were also lined with expensive materials.
Character: The Doctor is versed in many different things even astrology, through his
wide range of expertise he is able to maintain his place at the top. Chaucer believes that
even though medicine was primitive doctors prescribed medicine unnecessarily for their
own interests not the patient’s well-being. He goes into detail in regards to The Doctor’s
wardrobe because it represents his economic status. He has built himself financially on
the backs of those who he swore to heal. The Doctor’s personality isn’t a decent one, in
Chaucer’s description The Doctor is a conniving and self-preserving person who’s only
in it for himself.
Wife of Bath (pg. 114)
Description:
The Wife of Bath presents herself as someone who enjoys being married
and having sex, but also being rich and having nice things. She loves talking,
arguing, laughing and traveling, which she is skilled in. She also loves being
occupied but her main focus is being a professional wife. She is deaf in one ear,
has large hips and has a gap between her teeth. She wears a kerchief, which is a
piece of fabric that covers the head or is tied around a womans neck. Her face is
bold and her shoulders a broad. She rides a horse, that has red strings on him.
She wear new shoes that are soft.
Character:
The Wife of Bath is a headstrong bold woman of her time, and a very
confident women who thinks highly of herself. She gets what she wants when
she wants it and thinks men should obey her no matter what. She thinks she
should never be told what to do by others, especially men. She says “In wifhood
wol I use myn instrument as freely as my Makere hath it sent. If I be dangerous,
God yive me sorwe: myn housbonder shal it han both eve and morwe whan that
him list come forth and pay his dette. An housbonde wol I have, I wol nat lette,
which shal be bother my dettour and mt thral, and have his tribulacion withal
upon his flesh whil that I am his wif” (Norton 120); saying that she owns her
husbands, that she is willing to use her “instrument”(body) as a weapon, and that
she thinks all her husbands should bow to her.
She was married 5 times and had many lovers. She “owned” 4 of her 5
husbands, and when the 5th one didn’t obey her, she thought of this as a
challenge. She caught her 5th husband reading a book about how awful women
are, so takes the book out of his hands and rips pages out. He then hits her very
hard, this is how she becomes deaf in her one ear. Because of the Wife having
numerous husbands and lovers, she believes she is a pro in the “old dance of
love”, meaning sex. She enjoys being married and having sex.
The way to the Wife of Bath dresses matches the appearance of a
medieval stereotype of what a lustful person looks like. Her clothing symbolizes
that she is not shy or scared, and also shows off to others that she is wealthy.
Because of the way she acts and dresses, Chaucer want the readers to question
of she follows the Christian rules regarding womanly behavior. She is a big
business women. We believe she is rich because of her successful cloth-making
business. She is a talented cloth making and a devoted Christian who goes on
many pilgrimages; meaning a journey to a place associated with someone or
something well known or respected. But the reader later finds out that the reason
she goes on pilgrimages, is not because of religion, the Wife of Bath just likes
traveling.
We know she is a widow because only widows have the freedom to run
their own business and has the freedom to travel wherever they’d like. She has
traveled to Rome, Bologna, Cologne, and Gaul. Although she is a big business
women, she is more interested in love. Her gap tooth symbolizes lust, love, and
sensuality.
When first reading about her, the reader might think the Wife of Bath is try
to earn womens freedom. However, the reasons she acts this way is selfish. She
is just a power hungry, sex crazy women.
Wife of Bath (114)
Description: Chaucer provides a clear description of the Wife of Bath’s appearance and
personality. He describes her as wearing a beautiful mantle with finely woven clothes
with beautiful shoes as well as a face that seems bold or powerful. She also has “gapped
teeth” which suggests a lustful nature.
Character: The Wife of Bath is described as a beautiful and experienced woman who has
made pilgrimages to many places such as Jerusalem, Rome, Boulogne, and Cologne. She
also has had many lovers outside of her five husbands, because of this she is seen as a
temptress. Through her many travels and experiences she is said to understand “the
remedies for love’s mischances”. This experience ties into her sense of authority, she sees
experience as the highest authority in all cases. So while at first glance the Wife of Bath
could be viewed as a typical whore of some kind, if you look further into her character
she is a savvy and smart woman who is versed in many things, even cloth making. The
Wife of Bath is a very strong woman who won’t take a backseat to any other person
especially men.
Critical note by Dimetri Williams
The Parson (487-536)
Description: Chaucer provides imagery rather than physical description for the
Parson, providing only that he is a parish priest.
Character: The Parson is the quintessence of priesthood, literally practicing what
he preaches. He is poor financially, but rich in holy thought and work. Being the most
kind and patient priest, he never leaves his parishioners in adversity for social niceties of
any sort. He guides his people like a shepherd tends to his sheep, never leaving their side
in any situation. There is no guilt when reprimanding a stubborn man in doubt of the
Holy Spirit. The Parson guides his parishioners to heaven and their savior with a steady
hand. He does not falter or hesitate when wolves discover his sheep; his life is devoted to
them. Chaucer provides no physical description because this character is only comparable
to Jesus Christ himself.
The Plowman (116)
Description:
The Plowman wore a tabard smock (loose, durable jacket) and rode a mare
Character:
Chaucer uses the Plowman to represent the idealized laborer of the time. In the 14th
century not many people of higher status had positive viewpoints of the lower class
worker, especially following the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Despite this, it is unlikely that
Chaucer was trying to display contempt for this simple man. He seems to write in
approval of him, probably influenced by writer William Langland’s image of the
perfect laborer in Piers Plowman. Brother to the Parson (perhaps both literally and
figuratively), this relation seems to be apparent when it comes to their moral character.
The Plowman lives in “peace and perfect charity”. He is described to be a hard, honest
worker completing tasks such as carting manure and digging ditches. Even though his
work may be difficult or foul, he remains content and does not complain. He works his
fields and helps the poor out of love for his god. He always pays his tithes (taxes to the
church) on time, and follows the “Golden Rule” to love his neighbors as himself.
Although he may be in a low social class, the Plowman seems to be much higher morally
than many of the other characters in similar positions. Together with his brother the
Parson, they show hope for unity amidst social change.
THE MILLER
Description: Chaucer’s physical description of the Miller, whose name is
Robyn, is very detailed and helps the reader picture his vision of him. He is
broad-shouldered, strong and powerful with a red beard that matches the hair on
a wart on his nose. Along with the wart, his nostrils are big and black, especially
when he is angry which adds to his intimidation level. He wears a white coat with
a blue hood and carries a sword and a buckler.
Character: Chaucer's character The Miller is very stereotypical of what most
people thought millers were like during that time. Robyn is extremely ugly, which
during that time is associated with being lower-class. Although, he believes he is
part of the upper class-which is why he wears the blue hood- because he has
become wealthy due to his work at the mill, but it is because he is cheating his
customers. He is said to have a gold thumb because he places it on the scale to
make the weight go up so people have to pay more. Chaucer even associates
him to a fox because he is sly and sketchy and foxes are known to be thieving
like the miller. Robyn is also compared to a ram because he likes to ram into
doors to show off and a pig because of his strength, broadness, and his bad
mannerisms. He is crude, always swearing, telling dirty jokes and gossiping. The
tale of The Miller shows his indecent and inappropriate mind and is about two
men who fall in love with a man's wife. Chaucer has The Miller play the bagpipes
to enforce the idea that he is strong and powerful due to the necessary strength
of the lungs. Bagpipes are a instrument of the lower class because of the coarse
sound which also furthers the idea of him being from the lower class. In order to
get a better idea of The Miller Ricky Bobby could be referenced from Talladega
Nights played by Will Ferrell.
Critical note by Julia Tartaglia
MILLER (116-17)
Description: Chaucer presents this character with the most physical and highly
unappealing description of any of the pilgrims. A man of “ sixteen stone” (roughly 224
lbs.) with a “red beard like a fox”, one is to determine the Miller is a very large oaf of a
man with a tale as tasteless as his appearance. When the reader is introduced to his
lascivious tale, his bodily preoccupation of the red hair holds true to its medieval
comparison to lustfulness.
Character: Physical notations of the Miller are all ugly, and this is a suggestion that he is
morally a fraud. In the days of Chaucer it was believed beauty and virtue were
synonymous, so it is no surprise the Miller is made to appear so grotesque. His fraud is
confirmed with his “thumb of gold”. This is a saying to describe the way in which he
would press on the scale of grain to make it cost more. He is an independent cheatsman
looking to only make gains for himself. Yes, the Miller could pull down doors and plow
through them with his hollow head, but he lacked any social excellences. In fact he is
much like our WWE wrestlers (although John Cena is not sporting any nose warts). The
Miller was a “wrangler and a buffoon” just like them. They engage in disputes and their
ridiculous man panties give them the foolish persona a miller obtains. The bagpipes are
an appropriate choice to be the musical companion of this man. Loud and obnoxious in
sound, his personality is tuned to operate like them. It makes sense his hollow head
would possess the air needed to fill the also hollow bag. All in all “as any sowe or fox” it
is his animal urges that make him seem obnoxious and primitive.
Critical Note by Erin Clement
MANCIPLE (117)
The man in charge of purchasing cuisine and beverages, preparing them, and
letting nothing go to waste in that of an institution; a manciple also was responsible
for collecting money from those who ate in the Commons.
Description: Chaucer says little of physical descriptions here, though he wears a
long cape, a hat, and rides a horse.
Character: The Manciple is devious with any type of monetary decisions – whether
it is cash or credit – that are made (necessitated by his own responsibilities), but
always resulting in a rather successful and efficient outcome. Renowned stewards
and educated men are jealous of his abilities to haggle, cheat, and trade; he outwits
them all, though remaining secretly able to read.
Critical note by Colby Detwiler
The Reeve (117-118)
A reeve is a manager of an estate.
Description
Despite the blue cloak he wears that symbolizes his financial success, the reeve is
relatively lame in regards to physical appearance. He was rather old and thin with little
to no calves. The reef often kept his hair cut short just above his ears and wore "a rusty
blade slung at his side.
Character
Often described as a bailiff, the reeve acts as manager of his master's estate. Although
his primary skill is as a carpenter, the reeve prefers a different occupation. He is in
charge of making sure his master's employees complete their daily tasks efficiently and
in a good and timely manner. With much experience, he is very skilled in being able to
recognize the amount of crops the rain will bring and when to harvest them, as well as
taking charge of his master's animals. Many of the peasants who worked under him are
afraid of him because of his skill, but many, if not all, know of his dishonesty. Being a
very clever man, the reeve steals his masters crops and sell them without him
knowing. This brought the reeve to even more money through stealing and allowed him
the satisfaction of outsmarting his employer. The rusty blade that he wears on his side
shows that although he tries to make himself appear he comes from wealth, he still is
rather poor (but not necessarily the bottom of the social ladder). The reeve is obsessed
with wealth and it is clear he is willing to lie and deceit in order to gain financial
success. Although his attempts seem to go unnoticed by his boss, everyone knows of
his dishonesty. Through the reeve's attempts to become wealthy however, he still
remains nothing more than a peasant.
Critical note by Shayna Flint
The Summoner (118-119)
Description: A summoner calls people before the ecclesiastical court, in order to
judge them on their spiritual crimes. The Summoner is described as an extremely
hideous man. He is said to be so ugly, that children run away from him. He has
patches of red on his face, as well as being covered in pimples and other blemishes
all over his skin.
Character: Chaucer describes the summoner as being very dull and stupid. He
enjoys eating garlic, onions, and leeks as well as drinking red wine all day. The
Summoner uses quicksilver and other medieval skin cleansers in attempt to get rid
of his blemishes, but none of them seem to work. He is described as a very loud and
annoying drunk. He constantly recites things in Latin so that he appears smart, but
cannot tell you much more than that. The Summoner also likes to blackmail people
because of their sins.
Pardoner (119-20)
Description: Chaucer depicts this pardoner as one with long blonde hair (yellow
as wax) that flows down, wearing nothing on his head but a cap with a relic sewn
on it. He has bulging eyeballs with a smooth, hairless face. He also carries a
“wallet” commonly known as a bag that he uses to sell his items.
Character: The Pardoner seems to be a selfless person, working for the church
to get people to buy indulgences to repent for their sins; little do people know this
Pardoner is actually a selfish crook. He rides his horse around lands to promote
the church and sell pardons, relics, and indulgences, knowing they are all
counterfeit. The horse is described in the prologue as a gelding (neutered male)
or a mare (female), leading readers to believe that Chaucer is implying that the
Pardoner could be either male or female (possibly a combination). He also claims
to have Mary’s veil and a piece of St. Peter’s sail. Chaucer tells us how the
pardoner is actually carrying a jar filled with pigs’ bones that he uses to sell to
pilgrims and scam them into buying them as “saints’ relics”. The Pardoner is a
crook, using prevarication (lies) to sell fraudulent items in order to make a living.
This is an ironic twist to what a pardoner is actually supposed to be (selfless,
kind, helping) and actually turns him into the complete opposite (selfish,
deceptive, and untrustworthy).
Critical note by Caitlin Gillette