says At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene He had been at fifteen mortal battles He fought for faith and fame He is noble in character and simple in dress He has recently returned from war and goes to Canterbury to give thanks to God With him rides his Squire the Knight s son He is only years old He is brave handsome and romantic He sings dances writes songs and paints He is compared to the freshness of May He was as fressh as is the month of May He was as fresh as is the month of May The Yeoman is the Knight s only servant He wears a green coat and a hood He carries a bow a sword and a dagger He is strong brown-faced and skilled in woodcraft The Clergy Ecclesiastical Religious Class In The Canterbury Tales the clergy members are the Prioress Second Nun Nun s Priest Monk Friar Parson Pardoner Summoner and Clerk These characters chose to dedicate their lives to the Church However we can see that most of the Clergy are hypocritical and materialistic The Pardoner sells false relics and pardons for money The Summoner calls people to the church court but takes bribes to let them go free He loves to drink wine The Prioress Madame Eglentyne is gentle and kind She is polite in manners and delicate in eating She weeps if she sees a mouse in a trap Chaucer says She wolde wepe if that she saugh a mouse Kaught in a trappe She would weep if she saw a mouse Caught in a trap She loves her little dogs more than the poor She wears a brooch engraved with the words Amor Vincit Omnia which means Love conquers all The Monk is strong handsome and rich He does not follow old rules He loves hunting and fine food He eats fat swans and rides fine horses The Friar Huberd is greedy He loves rich people and avoids the sick and poor Chaucer writes He knew the tavernes wel in every toun He knew the taverns well in every town He sings jokes and flirts with women He earns money by selling forgiveness In contrast the Parson is a true man of God He preaches the Gospel with faith and honesty He visits every home rich or poor He is the best among the clergy The Clerk of Oxford is poor and thin but rich in learning and wisdom He loves books more than money and speaks few but wise words The Merchant Class Chaucer s merchant class shows city life and the common people The Merchant looks rich and proud Chaucer says about him Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle He well knew how to deal in foreign currencies He is clever and full of self-importance The Wife of Bath lives beside Bathe She has had five husbands and travels to Jerusalem Rome and Cologne She is bold and talkative Chaucer says about her knowledge of romantic matters in such a way Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce She knew as it happened about remedies for love The Franklin is rich and generous He loves food wine and pleasure The Cook is talented in his art He can make fine pies and soups But he has a sore on his leg In The General Prologue Chaucer shows every corner of society He observes with humour love and truth His art of characterization makes his pilgrims live forever They represent true pictures of medieval English life