Isabel Villa 1 Limata | English 12 Characterizations of the Canterbury Tales

In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, he constructs the characteristics of his characters in various ways. He demonstrates the character acting or speaking, gives a physical description of the character, reveals the character's thoughts, reveals what other characters think about this character, or comments directly on the character. The Prioress (also known as the Nun), the Monk, and the Friar, exemplifies several forms of characterization, mainly physical description and commenting directly on the character. This combination of description types works effectively because the prioress, monk, and friar are the most well described characters throughout the work. The Prioress is one of the most interesting characters in The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer describes her as trying to convince people that she is charitable to the poor, but is later described pampering her dogs: "And she had little dogs she would be feeding/ With roasted flesh, or milk, or fine white bread" (Chaucer 150-151). Chaucer also describes the Prioress as being narcissistic when he states: "Her veil was gathered in a seemly way/ Her nose was elegant, her eyes glass grey;/ Her mouth was very small, but soft and red" (Chaucer 155-157). She also tries to seem courtly and noble with her impeccable manners and use of French, when her time would be better spent serving god. Chaucer's description of the Prioress is effective because, without Chaucer saying that there is anything wrong with the prioress's behavior and actions, he instead allows the reader to make their own decision on what a nun should be like and what the Prioress is like.

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Another well described is the Monk. He is described as a strong man, one that loves to hunt and play sports. He is also described, however, as one who disregards the age old rules of the monastery: "The Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur/ As old and strict he tended to ignore;/ He let go by the things of yesterday/ And took the modern world's more spacious way" (Chaucer 177-180). The story's monk does not want to spend his time in his cell copying texts and other duties of his, but would rather spend his time hunting and eating. He also, instead of living in poverty as all of the other monks do, lives in luxury, described by Chaucer when he explains: "A manly man, to be an Abbot able;/ Many a dainty horse he had in stable/. . . Greyhounds he had, swift as birds of course/ I saw his sleeves were garnished at the hand/ With fine grey fur, the finest in the land" (Chaucer 171-172, 194, 197-198). The Monk is described in a similar way to the Prioress, with Chaucer commenting directly on the Monk's character and activities without much of his own opinion. Finally, Chaucer describes the Friar, who is even more despicable than the Prioress and the Monk. The Friar is described as being a con artist who convinces people to give him money, no matter how much they have themselves, as mentioned when Chaucer says: "For though a widow mightn't have a shoe,/ So pleasant was his holy how-d'ye-do/ He got his farthing from her just the same" (Chaucer 259-261). It was also said that he knew the taverns well in the town and got many girls pregnant, which displays his questionable character. His religious character is terrible, as evidenced by the fact that he pretends that he has a special license from the pope to hear confessions as a priest, even though this is not true. Unlike the descriptions of the Prioress and Monk, Chaucer describes this character in what people think of him, as well as what Chaucer himself thinks. He also displays why some people are fooled into believing that he is of good

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character, while others see him for the criminal that he is, which gives you a better idea of his character. Describing his characters with much vividness is key, for that is what defines the way the reader feels about the character and the degree of power of association the reader makes within the character. Hence the vividness of the character is directly proportional to how pointed his work is, which creates the tone (Chaucer 233-237). The more vivid the character is, the more pointed the message. For example, his writing is very vivid as to how ugly the Summoner is. Thus indicating Chaucers extreme dislike for what the Summoner represents. Throughout his prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer does an excellent job molding different ways of describing characters, as is evidenced by the descriptions of the Prioress, Monk, and Friar. These three characters are the best described in the prologue because their descriptions are all are filled with ideas about the character that cannot be easily understood and different viewpoints on the morals and characteristics of each. The tone of Chaucers writings used vivid descriptions to heighten the impact of the themes and messages he was expressing.

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Sources

from The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer translated by Nevill Coghill. Direct quotes from Holt Literature Language Arts Cooper, Helen. The Canterbury Tales (Oxford guides to Chaucer). Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996, p.334-5. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales Educational Series Inc., 1970. 233-237