The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Essay - 1115 Words

The Canterbury Tales is a set of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. The stories were told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral, in hopes to see a shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To make time go by the host recommended each pilgrim tell a tale. The tale that each character gives, reveals that person’s background and life. Some pilgrims matched their stereotype of that time but most do not. The Prioress, Madame Eglentyne, and Wife of Bath, Allison, are two characters that do not fit their stereotype of the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer demonstrates a reflection of change in The Canterbury Tales by comparing their appearances, actions, and morals. The Prioress and Wife of Bath do not match the†¦show more content†¦The Wife of Bath is popularly known for her extravagant clothing; she wore an elaborate hat, scarlet stockings, and a skirt (Chute 125-126). She is a clothes maker and she makes herself clothes that look like high class. Her headdress draws attention to her, this shows she has a â€Å"prideful nature†. She wears â€Å"scarlet hosen† that resemble wealth and higher class. On pilgrimages she wears a simple pheasant hat and wimple that resemble that of a lower class, unlike her Sunday headdress. Her change of attire from Sundays to pilgrimages, portrays she is on top of fashion in her time (â€Å"The Wife of Bath†). Not only do they show a change with their appearances but also in their actions. Chaucer describes the Prioress and the Wife of Bath as characters completely opposite from their social status, that â€Å"do not fit into medieval stereotype† (Gordić). Chaucer makes The Prioress a character on the pilgrimage to show her ways of the church are opposite than a normal nun in this time (Wickham). Although the Prioress is described as â€Å"delicate†, â€Å"subtle†, and â€Å"affectionate†, Chaucer could not help but give the Prioress a twist from her seemingly proper stereotype (Chute 123). In the fourteenth century, a nun was a woman devoting herself to follow religious guidelines of â€Å"poverty, chastity, and obedience† (Durant 305). Chaucer makes the Prioress seem like a two faced woman (Wickham). Chaucer calls the Prioress Madame Eglentyne, nuns are called â€Å"Sister not Madame† (Durant). TheShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer1582 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales a collection of short tales in the 14th century. The compilation of stories are told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories on their journey and two stories on their way back. Each story tells some aspects of English life during the time and often added satire like qualities to the English life. 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The baby took the surname of his father John Chaucer, who came from a family of wine merchants. The family relied on strategic relationships to subsidize where they lacked in wealth. Chaucer was fluent in French, ItalianRead MoreCanterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1380 Words   |  6 PagesCanterbury Tales Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer was a story of not the people themselves but a social statement of how the people of higher standing were viewed by the middle class. In the time that Canterbury Tales was written it was a time of corruption of the Church. There were many clergy members that were mentioned in this story. Each of the characters was unique in the way they went against the standards they should be held to. The most interesting this story was definitely The