4.2 Character portraits and social commentary

Chaucer's General Prologue paints vivid portraits of diverse pilgrims, offering a snapshot of medieval English society. From the noble Knight to the corrupt Pardoner, each character reveals social dynamics, religious tensions, and changing hierarchies of the time.

The portraits blend physical descriptions with inner qualities, using appearance to hint at moral character. This technique allows Chaucer to subtly critique societal norms and institutions, particularly the Church, while showcasing the complexities of human nature.

Character Portraits in the General Prologue

Character portraits in General Prologue

Top images from around the web for Character portraits in General Prologue

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Character portraits in General Prologue

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  General Prologue - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• The Knight: embodies the ideal of chivalry and nobility, experienced in battles and crusades, possesses qualities of honor, generosity, and courtesy
• The Squire: represents the younger generation of nobility, passionate about courtly love (poetry) and the arts (singing), skilled in riding horses
• The Prioress: belongs to the religious class and aristocracy, displays refined courtly manners, owns small dogs as pets, wears a brooch with the motto "Amor vincit omnia" (love conquers all)
• The Monk: symbolizes corruption within the religious class, enjoys hunting with fine horses and greyhounds, disregards monastic rules of simplicity and austerity
• The Friar: represents corruption in mendicant orders, engages in bribery, extracts money from people, arranges marriages for young women he seduced
• The Merchant: epitomizes the rising merchant class, focused on profit and displaying wealth, speaks pompously, boasts about business success
• The Wife of Bath: signifies emerging independence of women in medieval society, wealthy and experienced in love and marriage (five husbands), skilled in weaving, displays wealth through clothing and appearance

Satire and irony in pilgrim depictions

• The Monk: satirized for disregarding monastic rules, ironically described as an "outrider" who loves hunting despite religious profession, appearance and behavior contradict expected humility and simplicity
• The Friar: satirized for corruption in mendicant orders, ironically called a "noble post" despite engaging in bribery and seduction, actions contradict expected moral integrity of a religious figure
• The Prioress: satirized for affectation of courtly manners, ironically named "Madame Eglentyne" (sweet briar) despite lack of genuine piety, appearance and behavior contradict expected humility and devotion of a nun
• The Pardoner: satirized for hypocrisy and greed, ironically carries a pillowcase claimed to be the Virgin Mary's veil to deceive people, preaches against greed while engaging in fraudulent practices for wealth

Portraits as reflections of medieval England

• Decline of feudal system: reflected in the Monk and Friar's disregard for religious duties, rise of merchant class and changing economic landscape
• Influence of the Church: various religious figures among pilgrims, corruption within the Church (Monk, Friar, Pardoner), tension between religious devotion and worldly desires
• Impact of the Black Death: increased social mobility, weakening of traditional hierarchies, Pardoner's greed and Friar's corruption possibly resulting from social upheaval caused by the plague
• Growth of English language and literature: Chaucer's use of Middle English, development of distinct character voices, portrayal of various social classes and occupations through speech and mannerisms

Physical descriptions vs inner qualities

• The Prioress: physical appearance reflects affectation of courtly manners, fashionable features (wide forehead, straight nose, small mouth), attention to appearance suggests lack of genuine piety and humility
• The Monk: physical appearance reflects love for worldly pleasures, enjoys hunting (greyhounds, fine horses), plump body and bright eyes suggest enjoyment of good food and drink
• The Friar: physical appearance reflects corrupt and manipulative nature, twinkling eyes and soft voice used to charm and deceive, well-fed appearance suggests success in extracting money and favors
• The Pardoner: physical appearance reflects moral corruption and ambiguous sexuality, long greasy hair and high-pitched voice described as effeminate, lack of facial hair linked to possible sexual and moral deviance

Social Commentary in the General Prologue

Portraits as reflections of medieval England

• Changing social hierarchy: diverse range of pilgrims from various classes, rising merchant class, Wife of Bath's independence, decline of traditional feudal system, nobility's changing roles
• Religious corruption and hypocrisy: portraits of Monk, Friar, and Pardoner, contrast between expected moral behavior and actual conduct, criticism of Church's wealth and abuse of religious authority
• Impact of Hundred Years' War and Crusades: Knight's and Squire's portraits, idealization of chivalry, changing nature of warfare, influence of foreign cultures, expansion of worldly knowledge
• Role of women in medieval society: Wife of Bath's portrait, challenges to traditional gender roles, assertion of female agency, complex relationship between marriage, wealth, and social status

Physical descriptions vs inner qualities

• The Summoner: physical appearance reflects moral corruption and vulgarity, fire-red cherubic face and black brows linked to quick temper and lechery, pimples and garlic breath suggest unhealthy lifestyle and lack of hygiene
• The Miller: physical appearance reflects crude and aggressive nature, large build and wart-covered nose linked to physical strength and coarseness, red beard like a fox and wide black nostrils suggest animalistic and vulgar character
• The Parson: physical appearance reflects humble and virtuous nature, poor clothing and emaciated figure linked to spiritual devotion and asceticism, refusal to engage in excommunication for tithes suggests genuine concern for parishioners
• The Plowman: physical appearance reflects simple and honest character, humble clothing and work-worn appearance linked to diligence and piety, willingness to help others and love for God suggest inner goodness and virtue