Themes in Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in his poem "The Canterbury Tales", Geoffrey Chaucer uses a combination of vivid descriptions and detailed character portraits, such as the Nun, the Monk and the Friar, to present his personal view while allowing the reader to judge these characters for themselves. The author points out that Chaucer carefully groups these pilgrims in the General Prologue according to similarities in their personalities and attitudes. The paper relates that, as these characters set out together on a journey of redemption, renewal and salvation, Chaucer focuses on their vices and ineffectiveness. The author underscores that the portraits of the Nun, the Monk, and the Friar, which contradict Christian views on greed and selfishness, reflect Chaucer's strong criticism of the church and of the institutionalization of religion.

From the Paper:

"It is the Monk's obsession with gold and riches which further add to Chaucer's criticism and concern for the church as a whole. The fact that Chaucer introduces the Monk's portrait, directly after the Nun, shows how similar they are in personality and values. One way that Chaucer criticizes the Monk's greed and selfishness is by Chaucer's description of his body size. He is described to be, "a lord ful fat and good point; his eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed, that stemed as a forneys of a leed." It is apparent that he was not living a life of fasting due to his large size."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Chaucer, Geoffrey. "The Canterbury Tales". The Longman Anthology: British Literature. Eds. David Damrosch et. al. 2nd compact ed. Vol.A. Toronto: Pearson Longman, 2004. 252-351.

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