Characters in The Canterbury Tales as a Commentary on the Church Essay

How does the general prologue to the Canterbury Tales reveal Chaucers view about changes in society (especially in the church in 14th century England?

The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales portrays the characteristics of 29 pilgrims that take part in the pilgrimage to Canterbury. The main idea of this pilgrimage is to show your loyalty to god but not all as it seems. The authority of the church began to crumble after the bubonic plague stormed though Europe; people started to doubt the church as nothing would stop the plague even after they prayed for forgiveness of their sins. Chaucer had noticed a change in the church and this initiated the creation of the characters within the text. For instance, the Prioress did not show any devotion to god and seemed to prefer to act upper class; the Monk had a more contemporary idea of living that was very unlike monks in the cloister; and the Friar who insults the church by manipulating labourers instead of exempting their sins.

The character of the Prioress completely changes the stereotype of a 14th century nun. She spends a lot of time worrying about her looks and manners; by her acts she portrays a woman of high ranking. A nun would not take that much care into table mannerisms and her appearance. As a nun you are required to dedicate yourself and your life to god. But however, the Prioress displays, a brooch of gold ful sheene, and it engraves Amor vincit omnia, which is love conquers all in the Latin language. This representation is used to question the Prioresss faithfulness to god, as Amor vincit omnia would most commonly describe a love for a man, not god. The Prioress wears a wimple and a sophisticated cloak that has an expensive look to it, that is a distinct characteristic nuns are virtually prohibited to do. The Prioress expresses much grief towards measly animals that were deed or bledde. This is unsuitable for a nun as she expresses less warmth and friendliness to humans who are unwell. Monk is also described as a crude and irresponsible character.

Devout men in society would be easily thought of as a monk; the monk Chaucer describes shows he differs from this label and shows unjust ways of living. By cause that it was old and somdel streit, was how the monk thought of the old ways of living, strict and slow. Hunting is something the monk frequently enjoys even though the church says it is unsuitable for a man of the church. Hunters were looked upon as that seith that huynters ben nat hooly men. Books and studying is something the monk was not fond of even though it is common for monks to enjoy and spend there time on such things. Chaucer portrays his attire and possessions as being extravagant and unlike that of a monk, His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat. Now certainly he was a fair prelaat; His palfrey was as broun is a berye. These distinctive traits about the monk show the changes in the trust towards the church. The friar is also a member of the church who is dishonest and prejudiced.

Chaucer satirizes the 14th century church by the individuals he creates and the Friar is one of them. A friar is a minister of the church who has taken an oath of poverty and sexual abstinence; he listens to people confessions and bestows forgiveness. But yet, the friar appears to be corrupt in many ways and has a price for gods pardon, ther as he wiste to have a good pituance. He has undertaken an oath of poverty but despite this he takes coins from the poor people who need these mere coins to survive. Chaucer also notes that he knew the taverns wel in every toun, which shows that the Friar had a liking for alcohol, unlike other friars. This comes to show the corruption and discriminatory within some associates of the high church.

Within The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer illustrates diverse spiritual principles. The Prioress, the Monk and the Friar have each differentiated themselves from the expectations of a church representative of which they are. The Prioress shows different affection towards different aspects of this world, as to a typical nun. The Monks core beliefs are far from the high expectations of the monk society. The friar only cares about his wellbeing as to the poor workers who wish to be forgiven of their sins. These characters show that not all the people of the church are as they seem, and some may be corrupt and discerning.