During the period of transition before the renaissance, Petrarch and other Italian writers seemed to express the spirit of individualism that we would most closely identify with that period of time. However, the greatest English writer of the century, Geoffrey Chaucer, remained very reflective of the culture of his immediate past while helping to completely change the society about which he wrote. Chaucer spent his life battling the complacency of the lower class as well as the self-righteousness of the upper class. His intelligently arranged criticism was as intriguing as it was insulting.
             The exact date and place of Chaucer's birth are not known. However, most scholars believe that he was born in the early 1340s into a middle-class family (About 1). Throughout his life, he was able to get a fairly good view of the whole spectrum of classes. John Chaucer, Geoffrey's father, had brought his family mild success in the wine and leather businesses, but never rose much higher than lower middle-class. The fact that Chaucer had been so closely acquainted with the lower classes would eventually play a big part in the societal value of his writings.
             Chaucer was able to enter into royal service fairly early in his life. He was allowed to take part in a program in which sons of middle-class households would be put into royal service. They would then be able to obtain a fairly good education and be given the potential to achieve greater success in life. In 1357, we find that he ended up being placed in the house of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster. Two years later, he served in Edward II's army under Prince Lionel. Chaucer was captured and eventually ransomed for a pretty substantial sum. Later the very same year, Chaucer returned to France on related business for Prince Lionel. Then, after about 1360, we lose sight of Chaucer for a few years (Chronology 1).
             In 1366, Chaucer was traveling in Spain, and short...