What Picture of 14th Century English Society do you Get in the "Prologue to the Canterbury Tales"? - Quotes
The "Prologue to the Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer gives a detailed picture of 14th-century English society. The prologue is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
Canterbury Tales Prologue Quotes
Here are a few famous quotes from the Prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales":
"Whan that April with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote."
"And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye (So priketh hem nature in hir corages)"
"And specially from every shires ende Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende."
"The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne."
"And specially, from every shires ende / Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende, / The hooly blisful martir for to seke, / That hem hath holpen whan that they were seke."
The pilgrims come from various social classes and professions, including a knight, a squire, a prioress, a nun, a friar, a merchant, a clerk, a man of law, a franklin, a physician, a wife of Bath, a pardoner, and a summoner. Each character is described in great detail, with their clothing, manners, and speech all providing insight into the social norms of the time.
The knight, for example, is described as a noble and honorable man who has served in many battles and is respected by all. He is also described as being chivalrous and courteous, traits that were highly valued in medieval society.
"a worthy man that had been through many countries / And won much honor in his time, / An able horseman, and a very good / In jousting and in tourneys" (Chaucer, lines 21-24).
The squire, on the other hand, is depicted as a young man who is vain and loves to dress up in fine clothing. He is also described as being a talented musician and dancer, which suggests that these activities were considered important for a young man of his social class.
"a young man, a lover and a lusty bachelor, / With locks curled, as if they'd been laid on with a press" (lines 43-44).
The prioress and the nun are both members of the clergy, but they are portrayed very differently. The prioress is described as being very vain and overly concerned with her appearance, while the nun is depicted as being humble and devoted to her religious duties. This suggests that there were different expectations for women of different social classes within the clergy.
"a lady, gentle of manner and of speech, / Of great devotion and of great humility" (lines 75-76).
"a simple and devout person, / Her whole life given to God" (lines 81-82).
The friar is depicted as being a corrupt man who uses his position to gain money and favors from the people. He is described as being a "limiter," meaning that he only helps those who can give him something in return.
"a limiter, a man who loved his profit / And well could play the hypocrite" (lines 105-106).
The merchant, on the other hand, is depicted as being a shrewd and successful businessman, but also as a man who is dishonest and unscrupulous in his dealings.
"a man who loved his profit well / And was a great bargain-maker" (lines 131-132).
The clerk is depicted as being a scholarly and well-educated man, but also as being poor and living a simple life.
"a man of great discretion, / And learned in the law of all the land" (lines 141-142).
The man of law is described as being a wealthy and powerful figure, but also as being corrupt and willing to bend the law to suit his own needs.
"a man of great authority, / And often took his turn to be the judge" (lines 155-156).
The franklin is portrayed as a wealthy landowner who is generous and hospitable to his guests, but also as overly fond of eating and drinking.
"a man of great substance, / And lived in great ease, both out and in" (lines 171-172).
The physician is depicted as being a highly skilled and knowledgeable professional, but also as being greedy and charging exorbitant fees for his services.
"a man who knew the cause of every ill, / And of a salve had many a one / To heal them with" (lines 187-189).
The wife of Bath is portrayed as a strong and independent woman who has been married multiple times and is well-versed in the ways of the world.
"a woman who had been married five times / And had been a widow more than twice" (lines 207-208).
The pardoner and summoner are both depicted as being corrupt and using their positions for personal gain.
"a man who sold pardons, / And had many a one in his pouch" (lines 225-226).
"a man who often did the devil's work / And many a soul had brought to hell" (lines 239-240).
Overall, the "Prologue to the Canterbury Tales" provides a detailed and nuanced picture of 14th-century English society. It portrays a society where social class, profession, and gender all play a significant role in shaping an individual's status and behavior. The characters are both admirable and flawed, and their stories reflect the diversity and complexity of human nature.
Chaucer's work also presents society as one where people of different classes, professions, and genders are often in conflict with each other. Corruption, greed, and hypocrisy are also depicted in society as well.
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Literature