Themes of Late Medieval Society in The Canterbury Tales Essay

The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, sets out to expose the major themes of late medieval society. The dominant ideologies and elements of the time are revealed through character description as well as narration. By merging various different social classes together in one cohesive story, The Canterbury Tales provides the reader with a panoramic view of how medieval society truly was.

The first aspect of medieval society that the reader is introduced to is the idea of classes or estates. Before the general prologue even commences, the reader is briefed about the three traditional classes which existed during that time period. Those classes consist of the nobility, the clergy, and then everyone else who existed in society. Chaucer takes it upon himself to characterize each member of the pilgrimage individually. He makes it quite clear that his interpretation of who these people are are entirely of his own opinion. The first pilgrim to be introduced to the reader is the Knight, the choice to establish the Knight first is fitting because he belongs to the nobility, which is the highest ranking social class. It is obvious from the very introduction of the Knight that he is a person whom Chaucer has great respect and admiration for. The Knight is described as a worthy man (Chaucer 43), as well as someone who is wholly committed to the ideas of generosity, chivalry, honor, freedom and truth. This is the first insight into the role that Knights and other individuals of such a statue played in medieval society, they were deemed as honorable and respectable men who were worthy of attention and praise.

The fourth pilgrim introduced by Chaucer is a Monk. The monk is described as a joyful, plump man who loves hunting. The monk is eloquently dressed with sleeves lined with the finest fur of the land, I sawgh his sleeves purfiled at the hand, With gris, and that the finests of a land (Chaucer 193). This is the first glimpse of Chaucers displeasure with the Ecclesiastical estate of medieval society. The monk, a man of the church is portrayed not as a humble man but as a gleeful, overindulgent individual. This is representative of the poor image the Catholic Church had created for itself during late medieval society. The church has created a reputation for indulgence and corruption rather than charity and spiritual guidance. Furthermore the monk is characterized as lazy because he does not see the point in having to perform manual labor or study about church affairs. He believes that it would drive him crazy to have to study and read, What sholde he studye and make himselven wood (Chaucer 184).

Another member of the church estate whom Chaucer dislikes is the Friar named Huperd. The friar is a beggar who makes his living by pleading for donations. However instead of simply begging for donation from all individuals, the friar specifically begs at the hands of wealthy men. Chaucer is wise to his scheme, aware that the friar is doing this so that he may live a comfortable life even though he is supposed to have taken a vow of poverty. Additionally the friar has the ability to take confession from people, a privilege of the church which the friar sorely abuses. Instead of simply hearing confessions and then granting penance, the friar first receives a donation or indulgence, which apparently proves that the confessor is repentant. This practice of indulgences was highly lucrative for friars such as Huperd during late medieval society. Moreover the friar proves himself to be even more corrupt through his belief that he is too worthy to help those whom he deems to be below him in life. Chaucers description of the monk and the friar blatantly showcase his disregard and disgrace in the Catholic Church at that time.

Another pilgrim whom Chaucer characterizes in the General Prologue is the Clerk, who is a young philosophy student. He is viewed as a serious student of Oxford, Chaucer is favorable toward the young student because he is worthy and honest man, characteristics which Chaucer is fond of. Chaucer states that the student would rather have an abundance of philosophy books at his side than to be blessed with riches, For him was levere have at his beddes heed, Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, Of Aristotle and his philosophye, Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye (Chaucer 295). Chaucers favorableness to the student shows the reader that honest and hardworking men were admired during this time period. Like the aforementioned Knight, the student is proud of his skill and does not seek to profit from others but rather to spread his joy and knowledge to those around him.

Another pilgrim in the journey is the Wife of Bath. She is a cloth maker who wears expressive and eloquent clothing. The wifes dressing is representative of medieval dress, it was fanciful and animated, clothing was generally characteristic of the estate to which you belonged.