Though it is not pleasant thought, it cannot be denied the importance of the physical and material features in determinating ones social rank. However, as Geoffrey Chaucer illustrates in his 14th century work, "The Canterbury Tales", this may not have had any correlation to one's actual position in society. In this piece, Chaucer presents characters of various social degrees as traveling pilgrims, each one telling a story that is representative of their respective class. From the collage of tales and the vivid physical descriptions of each character, one can sense Chaucer's appreciation of both the distinguished and distasteful characteristics of each. As the tales were written during medieval times, they are inherent with the class divisions of the three societal "estates": the nobility, the church and the commoner. Chaucer lived his life in limbo between each of this classes which in turn allowed him to, "View with both sympathy and humor the behaviors, beliefs, and pretensions of the diverse people who comprised the levels of society"(175). The "Canterbury Tales" serves as a platform for presenting the wide array of people and personalities in this time while stressing the significance of the divisions of class. The noble image, as seen in the character of the Knight, was held in such high esteem by the people of this time that it was often a status coveted by members of the church class, as showcased by the characters of the Prioresse and the Frere. As Chaucer depicts, it was not uncommon for people of these times to shed the undesirable elements of their roles to the church in favor of presenting a more distinguished image.
             The first character introduced is the Knight. By doing this Chaucer establishes the Knight as the most noble, the representative of the upper class, and therefore the most regarded of the characters. Presenting him first sets up the social and moral "blueprint" by which all the other characters can be comp...