In Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury
Tales, Chaucer provides the reader with a variety of insights into these
characters of diverse backgrounds: from the very wealthy to the poor and
humble.
In this case, we will look at Chaucer's
descriptions of the Knight, Friar, Merchant and Wife of
Bath.
The Knight and the Wife of Bath are
truly worthy.
The Knight is a man who
has fought for king and country. He has returned from war, and his first thought is to
go on this holy pilgrimage to thank God for sparing his life. Beneath his armor we see
that the clothing he wears to protect his skin is marred with wear and tear associated
with battle, and the condition of his clothes attests to how hard he
works.
...from the day on which he first began / To
ride abroad had followed chivalry, / Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy...He was of
sovereign value in all eyes., / And though so much distinguished, he was wise / And in
his bearing as modest as a maid. / He never yet a boorish thing had said / In all his
life to any, come what might; / He was a true, a perfect
gentle-knight.
Chaucer points
out that the Knight does not just say the right things, but the proof of his sterling
character can be found in what he does.
The Wife of Bath is
a totally different kind of person. She is bawdy (tells jokes and sings songs that are
inappropriate for a woman), but she is a good person at heart. This is one of several
holy pilgrimages she has made. She has had five husbands and is looking for another. She
supports marriage and enjoys it. She is a successful merchant of fabrics, has a very
upbeat personality, and while she is larger than life, her heart is good. She is
desirous of a sixth marriage, for she is a woman who enjoys sex, but only in the
confines of marriage.
The Merchant's description is a brief
one. He is dressed very nicely. He is solemn in his demeanor, wishes trade lanes were
protected against pirates. He is an expert with all things related to money, however he
has also learned to hide the true secret of his financial
situation:
This estimable Merchant so had set / His wits to
work, none knew he was in debt, / He was so stately in negotiation, / Loan, bargain and
commercial obligation.
The
Merchant does not let the world see the truth about him—he pretends to be wealthy and
implies he is knowledgeable and successful, but he is in debt. He helps no one: having
money and keeping it is everything. He is unworthy.
The
Friar (unworthy) represents those of the Church's clergy who Chaucer believes have
stopped serving God. The truth is that the Friar fools around with the young girls and
then arranges marriages for them. He will hear a sinner's confession—but for a
price.
He is a Limiter, a begging friar, but he makes more
than a beggar. The more people give him, the more he forgives them. He is more familiar
with bars and barmaids, than the poor he is supposed to serve:
lepers, beggars, etc. Rather than praying, people should give him silver. For the woman
without shoes, he take her last coin. He settles arguments for a fee. He has time for
the rich if they can help him, but no time for those who suffer in his
parish.
While the Knight and the Wife of Bath are honest
and admired by Chaucer, the worthiness he ascribes to the last two characters is ironic:
he may say that they are well-versed in what they do, but they are
not honest people. They do only for themselves. Reading between the lines exposes
Chaucer's true feelings.
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