The famous story of Chanticleer and Pertelote has a clear
message to it, which is particularly heightened when we remember the person who is
telling the tale. Chanticleer is shown to be a creature that is easily beguiled by the
words of Pertelote, and in particular her rebuke about the seriousness with which he
takes his dream:
"Alas!" cried she. "For, by the Lord
above,
Now you have lost my heart, lost all my
love.
I cannot love a coward, that I
swear!"
It is his love for
her that causes Chanticleer to go against his better judgement and leads to his near
escape with the fox. Thus the message of this tale, apart from the danger of succumbing
to flattery, perhaps can be said to concern the dangers of heeding the advice of women.
This is not particularly politically correct in today's world, but we need to remember
that this was an immensely popular medieval theme, focusing on Eve as the archetype of
the woman as temptress. Women were viewed as "the weaker sex" and thus offered foolish
and dangerous advice.
Let us think about why it is that the
Nun's Priest tells the tale. His role is a servant to the Prioress. From what we have
seen of her, she is depicted as rather foolish and overly sentimental. His work dictates
that he must live surrounded by women who are working under her, and thus perhaps share
her failings. Thus we can see this tale as a barbed attack against his mistress and also
against the women by which he is surrounded.
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