Canterbury Tales , Prologue Essay, Research Paper

In Geoffrey Chaucer s prologue to The Canterbury Tales, he introduces a character that he describes with very high esteem. Through direct and indirect characterization we learn Chaucer s feelings and facts that help us get to know his character, the knight.

Chaucer describes to us many character traits of the knight directly. We first learn that he is a very distinguished man within his society. He is honest, generous, and courteous. He is also wise and knowledgeable, yet he is still regarded by Chaucer as modest as a maid. Indirectly we learn many key insights into the knight s character as well. We can infer that he is a world traveler due to all the battles in which he fights. Also, we learn that the knight is very holy. Some of the description that Chaucer provides us with leads us to ask questions. One instance has to do with the clothes the knight is wearing. He is described to be in fustian tunic stained and dark, but a man of his rank would have been able to afford king-like clothing. Why would he be dressed so slovenly? The answer is that he wants the first thing on his agenda, after returning from battle, to be thanking God for his safety. God is one of the knight s key motivations in the life he lives.

Chaucer obviously views the knight as on of the finest examples there can be of any human living in his day and age. Even though many other characters prove to be the exact opposite of the knight, he still resembles the ultimate good in people. As Chaucer said, He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.