Canterbury Tales The Prioress
Canterbury Tales - The PrioressThe Canterbury Tales - The Prioress Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in approximately 1385, is a collection of twenty-four stories ostensibly told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England. Prior to the actual tales, however, Chaucer offers the reader a glimpse of fourteenth century life by way of what he refers to as a General Prologue. In this prologue, Chaucer introduces all of the characters who are involved in this imaginary journey and who will tell the tales. Among the characters included in this introductory section is a Nun, or a Prioress. Throughout Chaucer's tale, there are characters which he seems to admire greatly, such as the knight and then there are characters that he makes fun of. The prioress, with her false sense of airs and piousness is one of these. Throughout Chaucer's prologue and the prioress' tale, we are shown what this so-called religious person is really about. Chaucer's initial introduction to the Prioress is as follows: "There was also a nun, a prioress, Who, in her smiling, modest was and coy; Her greatest oath was but "By Saint Eloy!" And she was known as Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services divine," (118) At first, one would think that Chaucer's description will be as flattering as that of the knight but soon enough we see the total opposite because at first Chaucer describes her as a delicate and well-mannered woman. "At table she had been well taught withal, And never from her lips let morsels fall, Nor dipped her fingers deep in sauce, but ate With so much care the food upon her plate That never driblet fell upon her breast. In courtesy she had delight and zest". (127) But soon Chaucer's description turns to one of sarcasm because the prioress is pretentious and is trying very hard to look the part of refinement, when it is all clearly superficial. "She was at pains to counterfeit the look Of courtliness, and stately manners took, And would be held worthy of reverence." (139) This is especially bad, because nuns are not supposed to act this way. You can clearly tell that although she was brought up in a well-to-do family, there is no connection between how she acts and the religious dedication she is supposed to be showing. The Prioress wore a coral trinket on her arm, had a rosary that was colored in green, and a gold broach which said "Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All)", depicting a nun who still had many valuable possessions. Also, the Prioress traveled with another nun and three priests, showing she was respected. Chaucer states that she speaks school-taught French instead of "Paris style" French. She would like to appear sympathetic and tender and charitably solicitous. "That she would weep if she but saw a mouse, Caught in a trap, though it were dead or bled". (144) This appearance will soon change as soon as we...
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