Effects Of the Plague
In October 1347 several merchant ship returned to Sicily carrying more than just the usual goods. Aboard their ships was the plague. Several men were already infected with the plague and as soon as they stepped foot off the ship it spread like wildfire. Traveling through all of Europe the plague wiped out one third of Europe's population in a mere five years. The plague did not disappear until the 1600's, even then people still feared the Black Death. With this epidemic also came change in every aspect of life. During the time of the plague people had no idea what to do. Some thought that barring their doors and staying away from all other people could protect them from the plague. Others thought that moving to the county, away from civilization, would protect them. None of these ideas worked unfortunately. People with the plague were left to die and people who didn't have the plague stayed away from all other people. This separation made living impossible, which caused the plague to flourish. When the worst was over and people started to come back together, things were not the same. People still feared the plague and were a little leery to return to normal living. Eventually, the survivors came out of their holes a
In Chaucer's time it seemed as if everything was corrupt. Therefore, they were willing to pay for forgiveness of their sins. The marquis married a poor townsperson and everyone disagreed with him only because she was a common person and he was a noble. Trade stopped since it was the origin of the plague in Europe, and business slowed to a stop because everyone was afraid to talk to other people because they thought they would get the plague. Chaucer incorporated the corruption of the church into his tales through the Pardoner. To do this he had to set free the horses of the students who had come to watch to make sure the milled did not steal from them. The common people, clergy, and nobles were all infected with the plague. This is the exact opposite of what the church was preaching. Each pilgrim told one story on the way to Canterbury. Many religious leaders and churches believed that the plague was punishment for the sinful lives that the men and women of the time were leading. Most, if not all, of the pilgrims were created or affected by some aspect of the plague. People were too scared to risk their lives to buy or sell goods. The clergy said to evade the plague you must ask for help from God and ask for forgiveness of your sins. In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales he writes of pilgrims who all take their place in society. Chaucer incorporated the estates system into his tales through the Oxford Scholar's tale.
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