Canterbury Tales Character Analysis - 1272 Words

The Canterbury Tales, penned by Geoffrey Chaucer gives its audiences insight on the corruption that exists to this day in humanity. As you read through the chapters Chaucer reveals the dark sides to supposedly respectable people such as the Summoner, along with people he favors like the Knight, the Wife of Bath, and women in general. His comical descriptions and stories that coincide with each character express his thoughts on real people in his society. My perception of the Summoner’s tale moral is that greed is the root of all evil. The Summoners tale introduces us to a greedy Friar who only begs at the homes of the rich. Instead of praying for the people he meets the Friar erases their names from his tablet after taking advantage of†¦show more content†¦This tale is very ironic because the Summoner himself illegally accepts bribes. Chaucer further describes the Summoner a mean spirited person whose breath smells of garlic, has severe acne, and scares little children. The Friars tale depicts the Summoner as a liar, a thief, and a religious character who will most likely burn in hell. The Knight, on the other hand, is one of Chaucer’s favorites. He is described as brave, chivalrous, truthful, and honorable. Over the years he has fought in 15 crusades of his era, and is a perfect example of an ideal medieval Christian man at arms. The knight’s tale is about two chivalrous Knights named Arcite and Palamon. Theseus, the ruler of Athens, conquers Thebes and rescues the two mortally wounded knights from death. Their close relationship comes under fire when they both become prisoners of war and fall in love Theseus’s daughter Emily. The tale takes another dramatic turn when the Duke Perotheus persuades Theseus to release Arcite on one condition: he must never return to Thebes again or else he will be beheaded. Both succumb to depression as they realize that their chances of marrying Emily are almost none. Furthermore, at the end of part one the Knight poses a rhetorical question to his listeners â€Å"You lovers, now I ask you this question: Which has the worse situation, Arcite or Palamon? The one may see hisShow MoreRelatedCanterbury Tales Character Analysis1988 Words   |  8 Pages The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection of tales and prologues of stories told by many characters whilst on a pilgrimage to the city of Canterbury. From religious figures such as nuns, monks and pardoners; to doctors, cooks and millers, this pilgrimage embarked on by many interesting people with stories that range from inspiring to gruesome. A few of the most predominant stories include those of the Prioress, the Summoner, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and the Reeve. In theseRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis981 Words   |  4 PagesUpon first reading of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, the reoccurring theme of social status is not blatantly obvious. 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