Cross section of the 14th century: how Chaucer sees it

Besides for his great poetic and literary merits, The Canterbury Tales Prologue is a wonderful commentary on English life in the Middle Ages. Dryden has rightly remarked that Chaucer must have been a man of the most sympathetic nature who could bring the compass of his The Canterbury Tales customs and moods of his time. Keen observation of him, extensive travels, vast knowledge and varied experience in the service of the state allowed him to present such a vivid picture of human life and pattern. Perhaps it was his desire to exhibit his vast knowledge that he conceived the idea of ​​writing Tea canterbury tales.

Chaucer’s technique for portraying his characters lies in playful, uncomplicated originality. In fact, Chaucer, being the true storyteller of his time, brings reality before us in its very original form. He is an objective writer for whom things are best represented when they are in their original form. He is perhaps one of the first to abandon the conventions that did not present the thing in its evident beauty. Chaucer displayed the entire parade of humanity with most of it exposed and with little curtains thrown over it.

Chaucer has given a wide variety of professions of his time. The Knight and the Squire present chivalric class. The Notary, the Doctor of Physics and even the poet himself are the representatives of the enlightened and liberal class. Chaucer has not spoken of either the elite or the oppressed class of his time. He gives us a vivid picture of all those professions, which were adopted by the middle class. He is not ignorant of trade, manufacturing and even agriculture. He has included all the professions of both the people and the people.

The important aspect that we get from his masterpiece of writing is the moral condition of that time. He has introduced a number of ecclesiastical and non-ecclesiastical characters and most of them are morally bankrupt. Friar, Monk, Summoner and Pardoner being officials of the church. They are expected to be ethical and religious, but it is only their appearance, inside they are money makers with the problems of others, they are mercenaries. Chaucer has presented them in a way that exposed their lack of discipline. The church institution, which gained great power in the Middle Ages, had become a place of extortion. Evil was not taken as a disease to be eradicated but as an opportunity to make money. The practice of granting great titles to the abbot when the vicar had inadequate income was common. Many people left their unknown and half-savage peasantry to go to London or elsewhere as chapel priests; Monk’s Statement”Why should he study and make a forest of himself? it gives the true picture of your inadequacy for your job.

Not only the religious authorities but also the various social sects of life reflect the same impression. Doctor of Physics, lawyer, Manciple, Reeve and even Merchants are not sincere with their obligations. They wear the masks of virtue, but in practice they never give up the opportunity to profit from the sufferings of others. Chaucer has exposed the reality in a sugar-coated way, as he knew it could spark hatred against humanity.

women in “The Canterbury Tales” They are Prioress and Wife of Bath who embody the spirit of rebellion against contemporary gender discrimination. Wife of Bath is a dominant character who rebelled against men in general. The prioress does not obey the bishop’s orders, she keeps the pets and goes on a pilgrimage.

by ChaucerThe Canterbury TalesIt provides ample information about the clothes, the food and the different instruments common in those days. The gentleman’s doublet, the Squire’s embroidered short dress, the Monk’s garb’s fur-lined sleeves, the Wife of Bath’s wide bonnet and heavy kerchief represent the fashion and style of wear in those days. Roasted swans, red wine, different types of fish were the popular food of the day.

Interestingly, his keen analysis of the characters with all their mannerisms, idiosyncrasies, likes and dislikes makes them full of life and not just bloodless dolls. They are no longer ghosts of the mind because they are not the mouthpieces of Chaucer but a faithful reflection of his time. Along with the speculator clerics there are various characters in “The Canterbury Tales” which are spokesmen for Christian doctrines and dogmas in the fourteenth century. Among these moral characters we find Parson, Clerk, Plowman, etc. who are poor in worldly material but rich in thoughts and deeds. Parson satisfies his conscience by being practical and not just theoretical; as he says

“If the gold rests, what will you do irene? Y

“A shit shepherd and a clean sheep“

These affirmations justify the bad condition of the church and of the social ranks because it is natural that the inferior or the poor indulge in crime if the aristocratic and ruling faculties are vicious. The state of morality was poor in the Middle Ages when rich and poor were all sinners and had to undergo penances that were easier for the rich in the form of hefty amounts.

We can conclude that Chaucer without amending or disguising interpreted the life of the fourteenth century through the experience of people and professions.