1) How do the portrayals of religious figures reflect Geoffrey Chaucer's views on religion and morality during the Middle Ages?
- Musleh Saadi
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
In "The Canterbury Tales," Geoffrey Chaucer critiques the corruption and moral failures of the Church while celebrating the virtues of true faith. Through vivid characterizations, Chaucer provides insight into the complexities of faith and morality during the Middle Ages. (I will try to mention more through particular line numbers, textual analysis, and intext-citation related to the references given below that how Chaucer describes his opinion about religion and morality) in the upcoming part.
The Pardoner exemplifies clerical corruption. In lines 675-714, he manipulates religious sentiment for personal profit, proclaiming, “I’ll have money, wool, and cheese, and grain” (Chaucer, lines 675-714). This reflects his greed, as well as the selling out of faith, indicating the moral degradation of the Church (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Furthermore, the Friar demonstrates moral relativism. Being charismatic and sociable, as depicted in lines 208-236, he has placed person interest above spiritual requirements. Chaucer comments that the Friar "knew the taverns well in every town" (Chaucer, lines 208-236), and it exposes the hypocrisy and misuse of his position for profit purposes (Wisdom Press, p. 62). The Monk and Prioress are in a position to further highlight the contradiction between spiritual obligations and worldly ambitions.
The Monk, lines 165-184, gives himself over to hunting and luxury abdication of the ascetic principles of monasticism. He criticizes this deviation by saying, "He let go by the things of yesterday" (Chaucer, lines 165-184). Similarly, the Prioress emphasizes outward show and social standing, as evident in lines 138-162, in her preference for elaborate falsity, such as her affected French accent (Chaucer, lines 138-162). Chaucer's descriptions show that the Church fails to achieve its spiritual goal (Wisdom Press, p. 62). In contrast, the Parson and Plowman portray true faith and morality. The Parson, in lines 476-488, is a very modest and dedicated clergy who "practices first and preaches afterward" (Chaucer, lines 476-488), upholding true Christianity.
Moreover, the Plowman, in lines 541-548, goes about his task with honesty and devotion, as the perfect Christian layman. These characters make up the moral opposites of rotten clergy persons and establish integrity as well as faith in importance (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Even though Chaucer is finely taking a peek at individual clerkly failures, he does not speak to the systemic issues that exist within the Church's power systems. This narrow focus, while illuminating does not examine the institutional roots of corruption enough (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Also, the representation of women, especially the Prioress, tends to dramatize the inherent superficiality and frivolity of women.
How she is concerned with etiquette and an "artificial French accent" (Chaucer, lines 138-162) reflects a narrow connotation of women's roles in medieval society, which questions the attitude Chaucer pursued toward gender (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Through satire, Chaucer critiques corruption and hypocrisy in the Church while exalting the virtues of genuine faith. Focusing his work on such contrasting characters as Pardoner and Friar and contrasting with the Parson and Plowman, he draws out the continuing relevance of faith, morality, and ethics in religious as well as secular life.
References:
Chaucer, G. (c. 1387-1400). The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue. Translated by Nevill Coghill.
Wisdom Press. (2022). Critical Interpretation of Geoffrey Chaucer. Retrieved from http://www.wisdompress.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Critical-Interpretation-of-Geoffrey-Chaucer.pdf#page=62.
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