The Wife of Bath in The Canterbury Tales is of the merchant class. She earns her wealth through her business as a cloth maker and has been married and widowed five times, allowing her to own her business. Her elaborate clothing and extensive travels indicate her success and wealth, distinguishing her from the aristocratic upper class and the lower class.

In "The Canterbury Tales," the clergy members on the pilgrimage to Canterbury include the Prioress, Monk, Friar, Nun, Priest, Cleric, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner, and Canon. Notably, characters like the Summoner and Pardoner are depicted as corrupt, reflecting the Church's issues during the Middle Ages. The Summoner extorts money by threatening summonses, while the Pardoner sells indulgences for personal gain. These portrayals highlight the moral complexities of the clergy in Chaucer's time.

Chaucer describes the Knight as an exemplary figure embodying truth, honor, generosity, and courtesy, having proven himself in battle and jousts. He is modest and not ostentatious, earning the title of a "perfect gentle-knight." The Squire, the Knight's son, is depicted as a youthful, handsome, and passionate young man, skilled in riding, dancing, and jousting, with a courteous demeanor and experience in battle, likely to follow his father's noble path.

In "The Canterbury Tales," three pilgrims whose appearances reveal their inner natures are the Prioress, the Wife of Bath, and the Clerk. The Prioress is dainty and worldly, with rich attire, suggesting vanity rather than piety. The Wife of Bath's flamboyant and colorful clothing reflects her bold, independent nature. The Clerk's emaciated look and ragged clothes indicate his dedication to learning over material wealth. Chaucer uses these descriptions to satirize societal norms.

In "The Canterbury Tales," the Manciple's physical appearance is not described by Chaucer. Instead, the focus is on his role as a purchasing agent for a group of lawyers, highlighting his shrewdness and market knowledge despite lacking formal education. Chaucer admires his cleverness but hints at his dishonesty, suggesting he might be skimming money. The Manciple is inferred to be of average appearance, as any notable physical traits would likely have been mentioned.

In The Canterbury Tales, the Man of Law is depicted as a dignified and knowledgeable lawyer who has become a judge. He is wealthy, owning much land, and is respected for his legal expertise. His appearance is modest, wearing a simple coat with a silk belt. He has a white beard and a ruddy complexion, indicating a life of indulgence. Despite his unassuming attire, he enjoys social prestige and holds various prestigious offices.

In "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales, the Skipper is depicted as a practical and skilled sailor from the west, likely Dartmouth. He rides an unimpressive horse and wears simple wool garments. His face is sunburnt, and he carries a weapon with a cord. Morally dubious, he steals wine and lacks conscience, yet he is a master of his trade, skilled in navigation and astronomy, known for surviving storms and commanding the ship Madeleine.

The dyer in "The Canterbury Tales" symbolizes the emerging middle class in medieval English society, reflecting the social mobility and economic opportunities following the Black Death. Chaucer includes the dyer alongside more prominent travelers to highlight this societal change. However, the dyer and other tradesmen do not tell a tale, suggesting a commentary on the persistent social hierarchy despite these transformations, where the traditional upper classes still dominate the narrative.

The phrase "I took him for a gelding or a mare" describes the Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales. The narrator perceives the Pardoner as effeminate or possibly a eunuch, noting his long, flax-like hair, soft voice, and lack of a beard. This description implies ambiguity about the Pardoner's sexuality and highlights his deceitful nature, as he is known for swindling people. The Pardoner's character is central to themes of greed and false piety in the story.

In "The Canterbury Tales," the Weaver is actually the Wife of Bath. Her job involves making clothes, and she is renowned for her attire. Chaucer describes her wearing heavy head-dresses, finest red stockings, new shoes, a large wimple, and a wide hat. She is bold-faced, gap-toothed, and well-traveled, having been married five times. Her attire reflects her wealth and experience, and she is knowledgeable about love's "old dance."

Information about the Franklin's character can be found on pages 12 and 408 of Nevill Coghill's translation of "The Canterbury Tales." The Franklin lives a lavish lifestyle even though he is not of noble birth. The Franklin is not familiar with the art of rhetoric and his actions makes this apparent within the listed citations.

Chaucer's descriptions of the pilgrims' physical attributes and dress in The Canterbury Tales reveal their true natures through satire. The Knight's simple, dirty attire reflects his sincerity. In contrast, the Prioress and Monk's luxurious clothing highlight their vanity and hypocrisy. The Merchant's and Wife of Bath's vibrant garments suggest wealth and ambition, while the Miller's deceptive attire indicates his dishonest nature. These descriptions expose the characters' virtues and vices, often critiquing societal roles.

The deadly sin that the Clerk of Oxenford could be considered guilty of is greed or sloth. He could be guilty of these by being greedy for knowledge or slothful in not working to gain preferment. However, these are relatively weak cases, and he is, overall, one of the more admirable characters in The Canterbury Tales.

The Oxford Cleric in "The Canterbury Tales" is portrayed as a character deeply committed to learning and books, having rejected materialism for intellectual pursuits. His lean appearance and serious demeanor reflect his ascetic lifestyle. He speaks only when necessary, with brevity and meaning, embodying moral virtue. However, Chaucer's irony suggests his teachings might not be enthusiastically received, presenting him as a somewhat dull character who sacrifices worldly pleasures for scholarly endeavors.

Chaucer's characterization in The Canterbury Tales is marked by detailed descriptions of apparel, physical features, and the use of juxtaposition. Clothing descriptions indicate social class and priorities, while physical traits often reveal moral characteristics, using Medieval beliefs like the Humours. Additionally, Chaucer uses juxtaposition to highlight hypocrisy, particularly among clerical characters, enhancing his satire of various social classes. His critical approach spans across noble, merchant, and church estates, sparing few from critique.

The character described as entertaining, friendly, and solicitous in "The Canterbury Tales" is the Nun, also known as the Prioress. Chaucer portrays her as striving for a courtly grace and dignity, being charitably solicitous, and showing sympathy, such as weeping over a mouse in a trap. However, her actions, like feeding her dogs luxurious food, suggest a disconnect from the true needs of the poor, highlighting her superficial piety.

In "The Canterbury Tales," the Knight, Parson, and Plowman represent the three traditional estates: nobility, clergy, and peasantry. The Knight exemplifies the noble ideals of chivalry, honor, and faith, joining the pilgrimage after returning from battles. The Parson, a low-ranking yet virtuous clergyman, leads his parishioners with kindness. His brother, the Plowman, is a devout Christian embodying the hardworking peasantry, content with his humble status while demonstrating love and charity.

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's portrayal of pilgrims in "The General Prologue" is nuanced, often using irony. The Knight and the Parson are idealized, embodying virtues expected of their roles. The Knight is depicted as noble and chivalrous, while the Parson is a model of piety and humility, contrasting with the corrupt clergy. The Plowman, the Parson's brother, is also idealized for his honesty and hard work. These characters are praised for their integrity and sincerity.

In "The Pardoner's Tale," the Pardoner, a church figure, ironically embodies greed and hypocrisy, preaching against vices he himself possesses. His tale of three greedy men dying due to their avarice highlights these traits. In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the Wife of Bath represents independence and desire for control. Her story of a knight learning that women want sovereignty in relationships aligns with her assertive and wealthy character, gained through multiple marriages.

Chaucer uses indirect characterization to reveal the true nature of his characters through irony and subtle hints. The Knight, while praised for his chivalry, may be traumatized by his violent past. The Monk, better suited for battle than prayer, neglects his monastic duties. The Franklin and Wife of Bath are depicted as indulgent, enjoying life's pleasures. These indirect clues, contrasted with the narrator's naive praise, reveal deeper insights into each character's personality.

In The Canterbury Tales, the Plowman's brother is the Parson. Like the Plowman, the Parson is one of the twenty-nine pilgrims who are traveling to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.

The Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales is greedy and manipulative, exploiting his religious role for profit, yet his transparency can be seen as a virtue. The Summoner, marked by corruption and bribery, exposes the church's moral failings, which can be considered his virtue. Harry Bailley, the Host, is kind and tolerant but avoids deep emotions, seeking to keep interactions light. The Narrator, Chaucer, reveals personal biases through selective storytelling, reflecting his preferences and prejudices.

The Doctor in The Canterbury Tales is portrayed as a knowledgeable and skilled physician who profits from his practice. He is well-versed in medical authorities and astrology, using these to diagnose and treat patients. However, Chaucer also highlights the Doctor's greed and love for gold, indicating that his medical practice is driven more by profit than by genuine care for patients.

In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, most characters belong to the middle class, particularly those in the clergy. While they are meant to take vows of poverty, many clergy members, like the Monk and Friar, live comfortably, enjoying wealth and status akin to the upper-middle class. However, there are exceptions, such as the Parson, who genuinely adheres to his vow of poverty and represents the working class.

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer portrays characters both negatively and positively to reflect the diversity of human nature. Positive portrayals include the Knight, who embodies chivalry and honor, and the Parson, who is genuinely pious. Conversely, characters like the Pardoner and the Friar are depicted negatively, highlighting their hypocrisy and corruption. This dual portrayal underscores the complexity of medieval society.

In The Canterbury Tales, the Pardoner's character is depicted as morally corrupt and hypocritical, using his church position for personal gain. His physical traits, such as thin, wax-like hair, a goat-like voice, and lack of facial hair, symbolize his inner depravity and emasculation. These features suggest a lack of masculinity and spiritual deficiency. The Pardoner's occupation aligns with his character, as he exploits the church's practice of selling indulgences, further emphasizing his greed and deceitfulness. Despite his contemptible nature, he adds a comic and sinister element to the tales.

Chaucer's portrayal of the nun in The Canterbury Tales is satirical. He depicts her as a woman overly concerned with appearances and manners, which contrasts with the expected humility and piety of her religious role. Her pretentious behavior and material interests highlight the gap between her duties and her actions.

The Friar in The Canterbury Tales is depicted as a corrupt and immoral religious figure who abuses his position for personal gain. He is described as a jovial and well-dressed man who ingratiates himself with the wealthy while neglecting the poor. His role highlights the hypocrisy and corruption within the Church during Chaucer's time.