Canterbury Tales - 1291 Words

Essay Test In The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, each character, such as the Pardoner, Wife of Bath, and the Franklin, epitomizes their spirit and reputation through the tales they tell. The Pardoner uses his tale as a gimmick to make money, because he is a greedy man. The way his tale illustrates each sin, every listener can relate to the three brothers and feel their guilt. The Wife of Bath’s Tale expresses her own values in the way the Knight is given a second chance after raping the young virgin. This greatly undermines her idea of the value of women. Because the Wife of Bath is so sexual, and lacks respect for her self, the Knight’s actions and forgiveness represent her own attitude on men versus women. Lastly, The†¦show more content†¦The Wife of Bath’s tale also demonstrates how important she thinks physical appearance is. Because, even after the knights immoral behavior, he is granted with a beautiful, trusting wife in the end. It is, how ever, the woman’s beauty that delights the knight, not her trustworthy manner. â€Å"Cast up the certain, husband. Look at me!’/ And when indeed the knight had looked to see,/ Lo, she was young and lovely, rich in charms./ In ecstasy he caught her in his arms,/ His heart went bathing in a bath of blisses/ And melted in a hundred thousand kisses,/ And she responded in the fullest measure/ With all that could delight or give him pleasure. â€Å"(292). The unexpected, and somewhat undeserved ending for the knight, expressed how forgiving, and fond of men the Wife of Bath truly is. Her choice of fate for this Knight is what makes this tale so appropriate for the Wife of Bath. A woman less reliant on the male sex would choose a bleaker fate for such an immoral man. The Franklin’s tale is very appropriate for his character because of its pleasant tone and trusting values. The Franklin chooses to tell a tale about trust, joy and faithfulness towards ones’ lo ver. Although the poem contains conflict, the ending is positive, and the integrity the wife possesses shows how the Franklin has strong faith in the human race, as well asShow MoreRelated The Canterbury Tales Essay972 Words   |  4 PagesThe Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales, a masterpiece of English Literature, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection, with frequent dramatic links, of 24 tales told to pass the time during a spring pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The General Prologue introduces the pilgrims, 29 sondry folk gathered at the Tabard Inn in Southwark (outside of London). Chaucer decides to join them, taking some time to describe each pilgrim. 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