Themes: Realism and Representation of Society

In his preface to Fables Ancient and Modern (1700) the seventeenth century poet laureate John Dryden commented that The Canterbury Tales offers the reader “God’s plenty,” that here one finds “the various manners and humoursof the whole English nation in [Chaucer’s] age.” The “General Prologue” does indeed portray a cross-section of fourteenth century England’s middle class. Although both Chaucer and his wife belonged to court circles, none of the...

Themes: Satire and Critique of Corruption

Realism is not, however, reality. Chaucer made his characters memorable by drawing on literary convention as well as on his own experiences, particularly on estates satire, popular at the time. The late fourteenth century in England witnessed the rise of Lollardism, which attacked clerical corruption. The Prioress of the “General Prologue” shows kindness to animals but not to people. Both the Monk and Friar are lecherous, and the Pardoner is a...

Themes: Humanity and Compassion

Even though the majority of the pilgrims here are flawed, Chaucer treats almost all of them kindly. The Prioress’s attempt to ape courtly manners has its charm, even its pathos. The Monk appears to have no more real religious vocation that the Prioress, but in the “General Prologue” he seems to be a jolly companion. The Franklin is an epicurean who is perhaps overly concerned with a good meal for himself, but he is also a St. Julian, the patron...

Themes: Vibrant Characterization and Entertainment

The “General Prologue” re-creates a lively image of Chaucer’s world. If the sinners outnumber the saints, the picture is perhaps the truer for this imbalance and certainly more entertaining. Chaucer here weaves a medieval tapestry with characters as eternally vibrant as they were when they assembled at Southwark on that April evening toward the end of the fourteenth century to begin their immortal journey, on which they are forever embarked.