In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer speaks of God's love or God's "aegis" over mankind. The pilgrimage to Canterbury itself is a sign of man's love of God, as well. It's difficult to tell how sincere the pilgrims are, however, since some of them are the most corrupt and secular.
Chaucer speaks of love in marriage, but his words are tongue-in-cheek, especially in The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. In the Wife of Bath's view, love in marriage boils down to the husband giving the wife sovereignty in all matters. Once the husband has done this, the wife gives the husband everything he asks for, especially in the bedroom!
The Knight's Tale deals with "courtly love," in which two brothers fall in love with the same woman. Instead of "love," it seems to be something Rene Girard would call "mimetic desire." One brother wants Emily because the other brother also wants her. Mimetic desire involves a love triangle, which inevitably devolves into violence. And, Emily is completely objectified, not truly loved.
The only "real" love of which Chaucer speaks is that of the Parson who has a genuine love for mankind, who works tirelessly among those in need, and gives all he has in a selfless and truly humble way. Perhaps Chaucer's definition of love lies closer to the humanitarian and compassionate than to modern notions of "romantic love."
9 comments:
all stories are very interesting and a few very sweet because shows the value of love and the value of fidelity.
the story that impact me more was the story of the two cousins that felt inlove of the same women ant they tried all the ways to be with her.
its impressive how with ball the problems that they have thet finally took all the things that they want.
finally in my opinion this book is based on the seven capital sins of the world.
att
gerbin angulo
20082165037
I think that the book is an representation of the seven capital sins, in each tale, the author
refers an a specific case that shows the etic problems, as in the knight´s tale that shows the envy, or in the reeve´s tale that shows the lust,etc. Is a very good book because shows that in all times people act in the same way and is a very funny form of make us this reality. I think that the humanity is corrupted and dirty by the consumism and the false beauty. we must change form of see the world that around us.
The Knight’s Tale is an example of a woman trying to break free from a man’s dominance. Emily, Duke Theseus’ sister-in-law, is a woman who values her chastity and has never been married. Two cousins, Palamon and Arcita, both fall in love with Emily from afar. Palamon falls in love with Emily because he believes she is a goddess. Arcita falls in love with Emily because he is attracted to her Beauty. Palamon and Arcita duel twice over Emily. The first fight occurred while both Palamon and Arcita were in prison, and the second fight occurred after Duke Theseus promised Emily’s hand in marriage to whoever won the battle. Emily, however, feels differently than the two cousins. She is perfectly happy alone and does not want to be married. She does not want the burden of being married and having to stay a servant to a husband. However, after several years of faithful service from Palamon, Emily agrees to marry Palamon, but does not agree to love him. Even though Emily did not want to, she had to remain loyal to her brother-in-law’s decision that he made with Palamon and Arcita. Emily wanted to break free from the dominance that man puts over his wife, but, having to stay faithful to her brother-in-law’s promise; she breaks her pledge of never marrying and fulfills her brother-in-law’s decision.
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue is an interesting example of a woman trying to free herself from a man’s dominance through gaining her own dominance. The Wife of Bath is a business woman. She “is a tough woman with a mind of her own and is not afraid to speak it. The Wife of Bath proudly proclaims that she has been married five times, and she “cites the Bible and deems that God ‘bade us expressly to increase and multiply,’” professing her opinion on sex. Also, the Wife of Bath shares tales about her past husbands and reveals how she was able to gain sovereignty over them. The “Wife of Bath wants to dominate a marriage, have control over the economics, have control over sexual pleasure, and manipulates the relationship to her likings. However, the Wife of Bath makes clear that she kept her husbands happy. The Wife of Bath may have had dominance over her husbands, but she did so in a careful, honest, and loving fashion that kept her husbands happy; once she had a husband, she was loyal, faithful, and never gave them a reason to feel inferior.
The Oxford Scholar’s Tale is an example of a woman providing complete faith, devotion, and love to a man. Griselda, a peasant girl, was asked by a marquis, Walter, to marry him for the sake of his people. Walter initially did not want a wife, but his subjects wanted an heir to the throne. Walter chose to wed Griselda, but was weary of her loyalty towards him. To test Griselda’s patience and loyalty to his decisions, the marquis plays deceitful “pranks” on her, such as pretending to kill their children and pretending to cheat on her. Nevertheless, Griselda held her tongue, controlled her behavior, and passed the marquis’ test. Walter rewarded her with everlasting love and gave her back the children. Griselda never let Walter’s malicious intent consume her strength, causing her to lose herself and fail his test; she never let the marquis get the best of her. Griselda was a symbol for the rest of the women of her time; for any woman would be so fortunate as to have her diligence and patience to be rewarded like Griselda was. Griselda found a man and gallantly remained faithful and loyal to him under any of the circumstances he threw at her, and, according to the tale, lived happily ever after.
Quite Good dear students.Well done.
It is interesting and rewarding to read what you think and know abiout these tales.
Martha
The stories relate us some kind of moral lesson or values,,, there we can see church people, royalty court people and common people...moreover we can realize how Chaucer made the character's details so clearly leaving us enter into their lifes and we can observe every single personality traits,, that somehow show to us the modern society structure...
Carolina
canterbury tales its a very amaizing book. i think that this book wats to show us the debility of the humanity when the lost their minds and only think with their bodies.
like i saiod before the storie that i liked so much is the old lady and the young men that the had married but in their honey moon he didnt want to be with her because she was old and ugly but when he finally understand that real love its only in the heart i mean de pure heart of love and not only in the body the old lady finally transform in the most beautiful women.
that is great.
so thats teacher for this books this classes i liked veryy much so thank you.
att
pilar tavera
20082165033
I think tha Canterbury tales is an interesting book and herre is possible to find ideas about history in that century also we saw several values and problem between human beings.
well, All the storys are funny and mysterious I liked a lot...the tale that most enjoy was the wife of bath..especially because the woman's role jeeee
although she is argumentative and enjoys talking, the wife is intelligent, etc..
the chief manner in which she has gained control over her husbands with her body's use jeeee
canterbury tales, is a kind of book for enter to another culture and see part of our beginning
also have a bit of fun and adult content (we already grown up!) but, also shows the differents kind of personality of the people and the shape of how they look the life
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