Putrefying Atmosphere

             Through the descriptions of several different characters, Geoffrey Chaucer is able to highlight several different social flaws. In his famous framed narrative, The Prologue of Canterbury Tales, each individual figure symbolizes a particular group of sins. With different views of the world, Chaucer does not cease to address issues present in today's humanity. Using irony toward religious, governmental and feminist roles in society, with multiple well developed sarcastic statements, Chaucer represents such civil imperfections, through three important characters. The Monk, the Summoner and the Woman of Bath allow him to express his irony and debauchery, while allowing others to reflect upon their own sins.
             The Monk described by Chaucer, abandons all previously established patterns of a life of holy sanctification. A monk is a religious figure who dedicates his life to the Church and to its studies. Living in a monastery, he is supported by donations coming from people in society. Luxury is not a word that can be easily included in the vocabulary of a holy man, yet this is not the Monk's case. The bald, fat man with red cheeks, is described as an elegantly dressed sir, with expensive clothes and accessories, "I saw his sleeves were garnished at the hand With fine gray fur, the finest of the land, (... ) He had a wrought-gold cunningly fashioned pin," (Chaucer, 122). Instead of a pale and sickly face, due to long periods of time confined in a monastery, red cheeks and fine expressions of a healthy, well fed man, grace the Monk. Riding his own horse, "Many a dainty horse he had is stable," (Chaucer, 122), he enjoys his free time, out in the fields, hunting small animals to take his mind off his religious duties. Going against principles established in books, he continued to indulge in his hobby, "He did not rate the text (...) Which says that hunters are not holy man," (Chaucer, 122).
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Putrefying Atmosphere. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 01:43, May 20, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/5527.html