The Nun's Priest's Tale

Poetry | Geoffrey Chaucer
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Who is Pertelote?

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Who is Pertelote? What did she say against the importance of dreams? [2019, 2018]

In “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”, Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) shows the bright farm life of a poor widow’s yard. Here lives Chauntecleer, the cock, and his wise wife Pertelote. She is a talkative and learned hen. Her views on dreams make the story lively.

Pertelote’s Character: Pertelote is the favorite wife of Chauntecleer. She is beautiful, kind, and full of reason. Chauntecleer adores Pertelote and calls her,

“Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis.” 

(Madame Pertelote, my world's bliss.)

She lives happily in the widow’s yard with her husband. She loves Chauntecleer deeply. She also scolds him like a wife. When he dreams of a fox and feels afraid, she laughs at him. She calls him weak and says no woman can love a coward. She says,

“I kan nat

love a coward.”

(I can not love a coward.)

Pertelote’s voice brings humor and wisdom into the tale.

Her View on Dreams: Pertelote does not believe in dreams. She says they have no meaning and come only from the body, not from heaven. She tells Chauntecleer that his dream comes from overeating. To her, dreams are foolish fears, not messages. This shows her confident and worldly mind.

Her Advice to Chauntecleer: Pertelote acts like a doctor and gives health advice. She asks him to take herbs. She wants him to keep a good stomach and not to fear dreams. Her words sound caring but also proud. Her advice finally misleads Chauntecleer, for he ignores his dream and falls into the fox’s trap.

Thus, Pertelote is wise yet worldly. She laughs at dreams and trusts only reason and medicine. Through her, Chaucer shows how pride in human knowledge can bring danger even in a simple farmyard.

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Geoffrey Chaucer
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