The Chaucerian Prologue
November 14, 1986
A review of the prologue to "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer.
Copyright © 1998 Property of Deborah K. Fletcher. All rights reserved.
In the prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's author-character uses several tones, which I will here discuss.
The author places himself on a level with his characters very early in the prologue. He does this by saying:
It happened in that season that one day
In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay
Ready to go on pilgrimage and start
For Canterbury...
...there came into that hostelry
Some nine and twenty in a company...
I'd spoken to them all upon the trip
And was soon with them in fellowship.
(pp. 19-20)
As you can see, the author uses a great deal of superfluous verbage. For the sake of brevity, I have deleted some nine lines of the canto from my quote, while still retaining the meaning. This manner of writing is common throughout the prologue, and it is this which makes it a masterpiece of writing.
Once he has established himself among the pilgrims, who are the main characters of The Canterbury Tales, he describes each of the major pilgrims, and touches upon each group of lesser pilgrims.
The author begins his description of the pilgrims with an introduction of the Knight, as is proper, according to social tradition. He seems to hold the Knight in high regard, saying of him:
There was a Knight, a most distinguished man,
Who from the day on which he first began
To ride abroad had followed chivalry,
Truth, honour, generousness and courtesy.
(p. 20)
And though so much distinguished, he was wise
And in his bearing modest as a maid.
He never yet a boorish thing had said
In all his life to any, come what might;
He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.
(p. 21)
He speaks grandly of the Knight, enumerating his battles, and often using legitimate historical references to support his description.
The second pilgrim to be discussed by the author is the Squire, who is the Knight's son. He describes the Squire as being young, but already of a courtly nature.
The description of the Squire is simple, yet vivid. It shows him as having curly hair, and wearing an embroidered tunic with long, wide sleeves. For his courtly attributes, he makes songs and poems, recites, jousts, dancesm draws, and writes.
Accompanying the Squire is his Yeoman. The Yeoman is rather better armed than most boys, carrying brace, bow, arrows, sword, shield, and dirk. He wears a green coat and hood, a green baldrick, and a medal of St. Christopher. The author seems to make fun of the Yeoman a little, stressing his armaments, while playing down any other attributes which he might have.
The Nun, Madam Eglantyne, is described as being a rather polished lady. She wears more jewelry and finery than a prioress ought to wear, but she seems to be pious enough.
With the Nun are another Nun and three Priests, who lend propriety to her pilgrimage by escorting and chaperoning her.
A none-too-holy Monk is among the pilgrims. He is shown to be rather modern, for his calling, and he is wealthier than the average monk:
I saw his sleeves were garnished at the hand
With fine grey fur, the finest in the land,
And on his hood, to fasten it at his chin
He had a wrought-gold cunningly fashioned pin;
In a lover's knot it seemed to pass.
(p. 24)
There is also an excellent description of the Monk's features, showing him to be fat and bald.
The Friar in the group is described as being very easy about giving out penance. He collects fees from all who he shrives. The Friar is described as wearing a double-worsted semi-cope flowing from his shoulders. He has a lisp, and he sings and plays the harp. His name is Hubert.
The author seems to have fun with Hubert. He treats him lightly:
But anywhere a profit might accrue
Courteous he was and lowly of service too.
Natural gifts like his were hard to match.
(p. 26)
and:
... And how he romped,
Just like a puppy!...
(p. 26)
The Merchant is a seemingly well-to-do gentleman, but he is actually in debt. He covers this by being apt in administration, loans, bargains, and negotiation. The Merchat is described to us as having a forking beard and motley dress. He wears a Flemish beaver hat and daintily buckled boots. He is not described particularly thoroughly, so he is not known to the author's audience.
The scholar of the party, the Cleric (or Clerk) of Oxford, has the look of a cleric: thin, hollow of expression, and sober. He is described as wearing threadbare clothing, and spending his money on books and learning. The author seems to make fun of the Cleric:
Though a philosopher, as I have told,
He had not found the stone for making gold.
(p. 27)
By this the author seems to be implying that the scholarly endeavors of the Cleric are useless if they will not turn a profit. Similarly:
His only care was study, and indeed
He never spoke a word more than was need,
Formal at that, respectful in the extreme,
Short, to the point, and lofty in his theme.
A tone or moral virtue filled his speech
And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.
(p. 27)
Here the author implies that the Cleric sets himself above the rest, when the truth probably is simply that he is better educated than the rest.
The Serjeant at the Law is a well-known barrister. He is well-versed in the cases and crimes of Britain, beginning in King William's time. He is described as wearing a parti-coloured coat with a belt of pin-stripe silk. The author makes fun of the Serjeant in two ways:
Though there was nowhere one so busy as he,
He was less busy than he seemed to be.
(p. 28)
and:
He could dictate defenses or draft deeds;
No one could pinch a comma from his screeds
And he knew every statute off by rote.
(p. 28)
The first of these quotes show him as being somewhat wasteful with time, and as padding his reputation with piddling deeds. The second quote shows that he strives for perfection, probably spending every moment memorizing, but never actually understanding his references.
The Franklin is a simple freeman, with a fondness for good food and drink. He is high-coloured, and he wears a white, silk purse at his waist. The description of the Franklin is predominated by a discussion of his favourite foods. This causes the reader to associate the Franklin with food and drink.
Among the party is a liveried group consisting of a Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter, a Weaver, and a Carpet-maker. These are all dressed alike, and each wears a knife wrought with silver. They are all married men, and this gives them a wisdom not to be found among the bachelors in the party.
The Cook is an accomplished culinary artist. He can cook by taste, and can distinguish London ale in the same manner. Unfortunately, he bears an ulcer on his knee.
The Skipper is from Dartmouth. He is not accustomed to equestrian travel, and he has some trouble keeping his seat. He wears a knee-length, woolen gown, with his dagger hung about him on a bit of rope. He is something of a rogue, appropriating whatever he needs. The author employs some subtle understatement in describing the Skipper:
Many a draught of vintage, red and yellow,
He'd drawn at Bordeaux, while the trader snored.
The nicer rules of conscience he ignored.
If, when he fought, the enemy vessel sank,
He sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank."
(p. 30)
The Doctor is an astonomer, better versed in superstition than in surgery. He knows of the great medicine-men of history. He is also a bit cheap, refusing to spend his gold. He travels in red robes, slashed with grey.
The Wife of Bath is very proper and respected. She is also somewhat deaf. She has travelled a good deal, and she has seen many famous places. She is heavy, she gap-teeth, and she practices the arts of love.
The Parson is truly a holy man. He is consciencious about his parishioners, and he practices the Gospel which he teaches. There is little substance to the description on the Parson, per se, but the enumeration of his good deeds is a strong comment on his holiness.
The Plowman is the Parson's Parson's brother, and he follows his brother's example. The lowliness of his social status makes him a better man than most of the men in the party.
The Miller is a large, brawny man. He is violent, and he enjoys fighting. His stock of tales are mainly filthy, and they reflect his mentality. He is given to us as being "full of hot air," as well :
"He liked to play his bagpipes up and down
And that was how he brought us out of town."
(p. 34)
The Manciple is an illiterate man from the Inner Temple. He is wise in the world, however, and survives better than his educated masters.
The Reeve is old and priestly-looking. He is in charge of his master's livestock, and bargains better than his master in order to grow rich. He is from Baldeswell, Norfolk.
The Summoner is a frightening man with scabs, whelks, and pimples all over his face. He tends to drink, but can speak nothing but Latin when he is drunk. He is easy on the people in his care, releasing them from sin for the fee of a quart of wine.
The Pardoner rides with the Summoner, and he is nearly as easy as the Summoner when issuing pardons. He carries and sells holy relics, together with liberal doses of hippocrisy.
The party being so formed, it is easy to see that Chaucer gives his author a good sense of description. Wherever a pilgrim is described, leaves the Tabard. The Host, Harry Hailey, joins the party. He is a cheerful and open man.
Chaucer's tone changes from pilgrim to pilgrim, as I have shown. He observes each pilgrim as what he or she is, however, rather than what he or she pretends or appears to be.
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