Hahaha! A Millers Sense of Humor
Some time ago there was a rich codger/Who lived in Oxford and took a lodger. (Chaucer, pg 88). Even in the first lines of this tale, the reader finds something to laugh at. There are many representations of critical humor in The Millers Tale.
To begin with, each character in The Millers Tale tend to have their own type of humor. Absalon, a character described to be the romantic character of the story, is given a very sarcastic tone throughout the entire tale. For instance, What was the good? Were he bold as brass/She was in love with gallant Nicholas/However Absalon might blow his horn/His labour won him nothing but her scorn. (Chaucer, pg 94). In most stories from the time era this tale took place during, such an appealing character would easily win over a ladys hand. But all that happens to him is he gets scorned and ridiculed. This sarcastic humor is highly amusing to the reader. Chaucer may use this to prove, however, that charm and looks wont get you everything you want in life. Another interesting type of humor Chaucer uses is his depiction of Alison as a victorious woman. In Chaucers time, it was very unusual for a woman to be cast in a positive light, yet in this tale, Alison is the one who wins above all others. The only bad thing that happens to her is that Absalon kissed her nether eye (Chaucer, pg 106), as opposed to And so the carpenters wife was truly poked/As if his jealousy to justify/And Absalon has kissed her nether eye/And Nicholas is branded on the bum (Chaucer, pg 106). John, Absalon, and Nicholas all received relatively strange and humiliating results, but Alison is depicted as the victor. I think Chaucer does this to show that life doesnt always work out the way you expect it to, and if you dont watch it, you may lose when you thought that you were going to win. Odd? Yes. But it is quite hilarious, as are other humors, more obvious humors that occur throughout the tale.
The Millers Tale has many portrayals of humor, and some of these are clearer than others. Unlike the more discreet types of humor previously mentioned, the storys clear humors include such things as, when Absalon comes calling on Alison in the middle of the night for a kiss and she snaps Take yourself off or I shall throw a stone/I want to get some sleep. You go to Hell! (Chaucer, pg 102). This is humorous in the fact that not only is Alison scorning him in a way that most adolescents of this time era will laugh at, but also because in the time era this is written in, woman are supposed to be gentle and soft-spoken, not cursing away their suitors. I think this is also used to make people, men especially, realize that women have a special kind of strength that society doesnt always expect of us, and we shock the world by behaving against societys so-called standards. Then Absalon, so fortune framed the farce/Put up his mouth and kissed her naked arse/Most savorously before he knew of this/And back he started. Something was amiss/He knew quite well a woman has no beard/Yet something rough and hairy had appeared (Chaucer, pg 103). Not only does Absalon kiss Alisons rear, but it is also hairy and gross, which is unfeminine but hilarious. I think Chaucer uses this to say that you may not always get what you want, or even what you expect. The humor is furthered when Now Nicholas had risen for a piss/And thought he could improve upon the jape/And make him kiss his arse ere he escape/And opening the window with a jerk/Stuck out his arse, a handsome piece of work/Buttocks and all, as far as to the haunch (Chaucer, pg 104-105). This makes the reader laugh simply imagining this act, but is even funnier when Nicholas at once let fly a fart/As loud as if it were a thunder-clap/He was near blinded by the blast, poor chap/But his hot iron was ready; with a thump/He smote him in the middle of the rump (Chaucer, pg 105). Then, a few lines later, John the carpenter ran about town screaming of a flood like a lunatic, and all anyone did was laugh at him. All of these lines are used not only to make fun of each of the characters theyre about, but to say that things may not always go the way you plan, and sometimes you have to improvise rather than relying upon others. The Millers Tale is not only a comical and highly entertaining story, but when you read into the lines, its also a tale with some valuable life lessons.
To sum, it is hard to not find the hilarity in The Millers Tale. Every few lines have something to laugh at. Chaucer created a wonderfully hilarious story in writing The Millers Tale. And God bring all of us to Kingdom Come! (Chaucer, pg 106)
Already have an account? Log In Now
6597