Canterbury tales
The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, is incredibly multi-layered despite its simple plot. The story involves a contest among thirty pilgrims to determine who is the most worthy storyteller while traveling to the shrine of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. This contest is proposed and judged by Harry Baily, the owner of a Southwark tavern where the journey begins. The Canterbury Tales is an ironic piece because each tale told reveals an intimate trait or view of the character speaking. Chaucer never had the chance to finish The Canterbury Tales before he died in 1400. He intended to have each pilgrim tell two tales each way of the journey and therefore, have one hundred twenty tales. Despite their abrupt end, The Canterbury Tales depict the people of Medieval times accurately, especially the extremely corrupted clergy. The Prioress, Madam Eglantyne, is a prime example of a tainted clergy member. However, her "Tale" is full of heavenly praise and prayerful reverence to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Prioress is certain she is telling a highly moral tale, when, in fact, her "Tale" tells of the persecution of and prejudice toward Jewish people. For this reason the Prioress' Tale is very appropriate to her lifestyle and her
Her behavior and personality point to her true character through her "Prologue" and "Tale". The setting of The Prioress' Tale is a city in Asia. However, the dogs also live lavish lifestyles and eat better than many humans did at the time. Although it certainly handles a situation based on religion, it is unreasonable in its dealings toward Jewish people and overstresses praise to Mary. She states, "Help me to tell my story/ In reverence of thee and of thy glory! (Chaucer 20-21) As she observes "Thou didst ravish down from Deity (Chaucer 17)" one could infer that perhaps Madam Eglantyne is observing a positive quality of the Blessed Virgin to countermand a negative quality within herself. The Prioress shows this devotion through her tale, as well as her use of her beautiful rosary. Chaucer portrays Madam Eglantyne, the Prioress, as a very good-looking woman. "Another Nun, the secretary of her cell/ Was riding with her, and three priests as well (Chaucer 167-68). The boy, who has not yet died, continues to sing until a monk removes a grain from his tongue and he dies. As she moves on to the telling of her "Tale" the Prioress exposes her innermost qualities with more ease. As a Prioress, Madam Eglantyne probably had a special privilege to be traveling outside the abbey, on the pilgrimage ("The Prioress' Tale 1"). This city has a community of Jews who do not get along with the Christians living nearby. "The serpent Satan shook those Jewish Hearts"(Chaucer 190) and one day as the little boy is walking home from school, the Jews slit his throat and throw him in a ditch. She speaks French after the class of "Stratford-atte-Bowe" speakers, meaning she learned it in the convent.
Common topics in this essay:
Madam Eglantyne,
Madam Eglantyne's,
Canterbury Tales,
Prioress' Rosary,
Blessed Virgin,
Eglantyne Prioress,
Miracles Virgin,
Jewish HeartsChaucer,
Europe Chaucer,
Medieval Anti-Semitism,
madam eglantyne,
canterbury tales,
jewish people,
medieval times,
madam eglantyne's,
prioress' tale,
blessed virgin,
corrupted clergy,
telling tale,
medieval anti-semitism 1,
1 prioress,
towards jewish people,
prioress madam eglantyne,
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Acceptance Essays
