The various humors and manners of the whole English nation were sketched in its most minute details and very artistic manner by Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales. As Dryden has truly remarked, “it is sufficient to say, according to the proverb that here is god’s plenty. ” (Dryden, e-notes) In this master-stroke of Chaucer’s original genius, we have his story tellers in a many-colored living group with an assortment of personality traits.
The Squire who attended on the Knight was his own son, a young man of about twenty, with curly hair and an average height. Chaucer has depicted him as a very lovable youth.His garments were those that would attract people of all ages and both sexes as they were embroidered like a meadow full of fresh flowers, white and red. He was proficient in singing and composing songs, dancing, drawing and writing. He was courteous, modest and useful. His duties included even carving before his father at the table.
That is, he used to cut roasted meat into small pieces for his father to eat. Youthful enthusiasm is the hallmark of his being. Though his love-sickness is mentioned, it adds to the quality of his youthfulness which is typical to the squires of his time.This character undoubtedly represents the agricultural feudalism of the time.
The Shipman, owner of the vessel called the Madelaine, represents an occupation rapidly gaining importance in those days. To England’s interests, the sea and the sea-going activities were vital. This character is presented as rough and ready to do anything, which his position is obliged to be. He is immediately identified by his inability to ride on a horse.
To Chaucer, he is “a good fellow”. But this expression itself turns out to be ironical as it is said soon after an account of stealing wine from the merchant who was paying him to convey and protect his goods.Another trait of his that is commendable is his easy conscience, according to the author, that made him unburdened himself of his prisoners by throwing them into the sea. He was unequalled in calculating the time of ocean-tides, dealing with the dangers that beset him, judging ocean currents, in steering the ship, finding his way to his destination by watching the movements of the moon, and above all, in his expertise in sailing.
He is presented as a tough man, very shrewd in his undertakings. The Physician is thoroughly studied in the science of the influence of the stars on human affairs, especially on the health of the individuals.He was a great authority on the treatment of various diseases. He could easily judge whether a sickness was due to an excess of heat or cold or moisture or dryness in the patient’s body. Here a tinge of irony is added by Chaucer when he comments that he loved gold, only because it was an ingredient in preparing certain medicines.
He knew the authors of the principal medical text books as Aesculapias, Dioscorides, Hippocrates and the like. In spite of that, being a skeptic, his knowledge of bible was very meager. He was very health conscious by restricting the intake of foods.He ate only those foods that were nourishing and digestible. Another trait that needs special mention is his miserliness which made him save all that he amassed during the time of plague.
He was a good friend to his colleagues as he was ready to help his friends to make profits out of his trade. Chaucer has taken immense pains to realize the grand figure of the Wife of Bath in a creative impulse of supreme intensity. At the outset we are told that she was somewhat deaf (owing to a blow she received from her fifth husband.) in spite of having five husbands she had a lot of lovers too.“The story of her own life, told in a Prologue that is considerably longer than her Tale, presents an account of the Wife of Bath's failures to follow the marriage rule…” (Nelson,3). She had a great talent for cloth making, possessing in this craft a skill superior to that of the workmen of Ypress and Ghent.
This gap-toothed woman sat upon an ambling horse with ease and was neatly veiled. The kerchiefs she wore on her head on a Sunday was incredibly heavy. It weighed at least 10 pounds.Her hat was as wide as a shield and her garb included an outer skirt and a pair of sharp spurs on her feet. No doubt, she was well-versed in all the devices of love-making and she knew all methods of gratifying love. In the delineation of the Miller, great emphasis is given on his physical appearance.
He is presented as a stout fellow, with powerful muscles, broad arms and large bones. He always won the wrestling matches which he took part in and thus he proved his strength wherever he went. He could break open a door by striking his head against it.This man of robust physique had a wart on which a tuft of red hair grew on the tip of his nose.
This person is presented as a loose talker who found pleasure in obscene jokes and indecent stories. He was a cheat also. He stole his customers’ flour, at the same time charging them three times the actual fee for milling their corn. Yet he had no need to be dishonest, because he was quite skilful and could have enjoyed prosperity without cheating as he had a thumb of gold which always brought in good luck. The Miller, who wore a white coat and a blue hood, had a musical taste and could play on the bagpipe well.Chaucer’s Pardoner’s bag is seen as jam-packed with indulgences (remission of punishment to repentant sinners) which he claimed as directly acquired from the Pope at Rome.
He had in his possession several articles which he claimed to be very precious holy relics. Carrying all these he never missed an opportunity to befool parsons and their flocks wherever he went. Within the precincts of a church, he appeared to be a very noble pardoner as he knew how to read a passage from the bible or the life story of a saint and when to sing an anthem preparatory to the ceremonial offering of the bread and the wine.Lack of virility, effeminacy of mind and above all, the inborn trait of deceiving others is indicated by his hair which was as yellow as wax and as smooth as a coll of flax. His concern for clothes and his wish to be updated and perfect in the latest fashion confirms that. His shining bright eyes signify folly and immodesty in his character.
Moreover, “he attempts to sell pardons to the group—in effect plying his trade in clear violation of the rules outlined by the host. ” (Spark Notes) We see that in the delineation of the pardoner, Chaucer shows little sympathy.
