Canterbury Tales Essay, Research Paper

Canterbury Tales as a whole was very interesting. It has introduced us to a way of life that we never knew existed. It also introduced us to a type of crude humor that we have never been exposed to. It has shown us a true side of life during the Middle Ages. We have learned many things already from our World History teachers, but to experience it first hand is a different story. To experience the jokes, the merriment, and culture opens the gates to a new world. I think that these tales have been very entertaining, and enriching. I liked all the tales that I have read. I think that Geoffrey Chaucer was right to record culture the way it is, and not have toned it down to fit the needs of religion. The culture is the way it is, and no one can change it, only to record it. Chaucer recorded like he saw it, with no bias or impure intentions. He was just an author trying to write a book, for people to read and enjoy.

I think that the Miller’s Tale was very interesting, and definitely showed us some of the crude humor that people in the Middle Ages liked to read about. Most of the crude descriptions, or would not even be allowed to be discussed in sex education class. It can be gruesome, yet it can also be romantic. The plot describes the two lovers, as trying to make love, yet her husband must be distracted. They scheme a clever plot to avoid detection, but a friend spoils the plan. It is a Romeo and Juliet version that is a bit twisted, and bent.

The Reeve’s Tale

In the Prioress’s Tale religious discrimination is a definite issue. It deals with the conflicts concerning Jewish, and Christian people. Although in today’s times this religious conflict would not usually occur, it is still a minor issue. Most Christians do not despise Jewish people, and most Jewish people do not despise Christian people, in fact they seem to get along together pretty nicely. However in the Middle Ages people must have thought differently because this type of story would never be allowed in our library. However Chaucer has written the Tale in the way he felt that best expressed the times.

The Pardoner’s Tale had to do with some religious issues again. In this tale it discusses different types of sins, and tells a tale of a group of boy’s sins. I thought the tale was interesting, and very fun to read. However the religious aspects of the tale were a bit too much. I guess religion was definitely a big part of a person’s life in the Middle Ages. The Tale does not discuss different religions as much as it discusses Christian values, and morals. Ironically, the Pardoner, who goes around taking advantage of the peoples belief in god, tells this tale.

In the Wife of Bath’s Tale Chaucer discuss the virtues of cheating, or infidelity. Again the story discusses the Christian morals, and virtues. Yet the tale seems to mock this Christian values, because in every tale the character is always cheating or committing sins, and this tale is no exception. I enjoyed the tale because it was funny, and curiously interesting. Most of the modern stories I have read dare not to be so frank on sexuality, along with the Christian values that it violates. But that is what makes the story so appealing. That is probably why the book or tales were so popular during the Middle Ages also.