Chaucer's Prioress
Who, in her smiling, modest was and coy; Her greatest oath was but "By Saint Eloy!" And she was known as Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services divine, Intoning through her nose, becomingly; And fair she spoke her French, and fluently, After the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, For French of Paris was not hers to know. At table she had been well taught withal, And never from her lips let morsels fall, Nor dipped her fingers deep in sauce, but ate With so much care the food upon her plate That never driblet fell upon her breast. In courtesy she had delight and zest. Her upper lip was always wiped so clean Of grease, when she had drunk her draught of wine. Becomingly she reached for meat to dine. And certainly delighting in good sport, She was right pleasant, amiable- in short. She was at pains to counterfeit the look Of courtliness, and stately manners took, And would be held worthy of reverence. But, to say something of her moral sense, That she would weep if she but saw a mouse Caught in a trap, though it were dead or bled. She had some little dogs, too, that she fed
Religious people such as nuns, priest, and monks may appear to be the epitome of perfection and piety. This passage is an excerpt from the prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Many texts related to medieval religion were writings authored by the churches themselves. Of course, if a documentation is going to be made, the churchmen would have wanted to present the church itself in a positive way. Above all of these characteristics, she was satirically presented as charitable, and piteous. But sore she'd weep if one of them were dead, Or if men smote it with a rod to smart: For pity ruled her, and her tender heart. After her father had a hard time finding a husband for her, she was most likely sent to the convent rather than disgracing the family name. As for her beauty and adornment, preachers of the Middle Ages lectured that a woman should be modest in dress without costly attire or expensive jewelry. In her instance, the trait of charity was very peculiar. The prioress is physically described as smiling and attractive with a fine nose, blue eyes, and a small mouth. Of coral small about her arm she'd bear A string of beads and gauded all with green; And therefrom hung a brooch of golden sheen Whereon there was first written a crowned "A," And under, Amor vincit omnia. First of all, her dedication to the holy life had practically nothing to do with a commitment to God. In this case, we can assume that Chaucer presents some truth in the character of the Prioress, but it is apparent that she by no means resembled the standard of perfection that was to be attained by religious women of the time period. In this case, the prioress most likely had nothing to do with a decision to enter the holy life. Her dedication to this charity allowed her to feed precious meat, white bread, and milk to her dogs.
Common topics in this essay:
French Paris,
Middle Ages,
Canterbury Tales,
Love Conquers,
Madam Eglantine,
,
Canterbury Prioress,
canterbury tales,
medieval religious,
religious women,
bracelet adorned gold,
expensive jewelry,
white bread,
bracelet adorned,
holy life,
adorned gold,
charitable piteous,
canterbury prioress,
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