ale.
Religious Condition of Chaucer’s Age: The 14th-century Church was rich but corrupt. Many churchmen forgot real religion. Chaucer shows both good and bad examples. The Prioress is gentle and polite but worldly. She loves her little dogs more than the poor. 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.)
The Monk loves hunting instead of praying. The Friar goes to taverns and flirts with women. Chaucer writes,
“He knew the tavernes wel in every toun.”
(He knew the taverns well in every town.)
But the Parson is pure, honest, and devoted. Chaucer says about him,
“Riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.”
(He was rich in holy thought and work.)
Thus, Chaucer shows the hypocrisy of many churchmen and also the true spirit of Christianity through the Parson.
Expansion of Trade and Rise of Merchants: During Chaucer’s time, trade and commerce increased rapidly. The new merchant class became powerful. Chaucer presents this change through the Merchant, the Franklin, and the Guildsmen. The Merchant loves profit and business. Chaucer says about him,
“Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.”
(He well knew how to deal in foreign currencies.)
The Franklin is rich and loves food, wine, and pleasure. He represents the wealthy country gentleman. The Guildsmen (Carpenter, Haberdasher, Weaver, Dyer, and Tapestry-maker) show the rising urban middle class of craftsmen and citizens. Chaucer thus paints the growing economic and social change of England.
Representation of the Lower Class: Chaucer also includes the working class and peasants in his picture. The Plowman, brother of the Parson, is honest, hardworking, and kind. He represents the true heart of rural England. The Miller and Reeve show the rough, humorous, and sometimes dishonest side of common people. Through them, Chaucer gives us a lively picture of village life and human nature.
Condition of Table Manners: Chaucer’s age cared much for manners and refinement, especially among women. The Prioress shows the table manners of the upper class.
“She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle.”
(She let no morsel fall from her lips.)
She eats cleanly and wipes her mouth politely. But her behaviour also shows vanity and pretension. Through such small details, Chaucer reflects the social customs and habits of the time.
Representation of the Medical Profession: The 14th century saw the growth of medical learning from Greek and Arabic sources. Chaucer’s Doctor of Physic is a learned man. He knows all the old authors like Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicenna. But he loves gold more than his patients.
“For gold in phisik is a cordial.”
(In medicine, gold is a tonic for the heart.)
This shows both the progress of science and the greed for money among learned men of the time.
Situation of Women: Chaucer’s women show both gentleness and strength. The Prioress represents soft manners and false piety. The Wife of Bath represents the bold and independent woman of the Middle class. 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.)
She is proud, talkative, and free-minded, the first “modern woman” in English literature. Through them, Chaucer gives a true picture of female life in medieval society- from convent to home.
In “The General Prologue,” Chaucer paints a complete picture of 14th-century English life. Every pilgrim stands for a social group. Chaucer’s keen eye and gentle humour make the Prologue a “mirror of England.” He is not only a poet but also a historian of his age and the truest painter of real life.
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