Examine the Presentation of the Ecclesiastical Characters in Chaucer’s General Prologue

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Examine the Presentation of the Ecclesiastical Characters in Chaucer’s General Prologue


Chaucer’s account of the ecclesiastical figures is an example of his social satire. He presents the majority of these characters as people going on the pilgrimage for completely the wrong reasons, which suggests how seriously Chaucer is worried with the lowering of moral standards, as well as the avarice gripping society. This could be a definite criticism of the corrupt state of the church at the time. Out of the thirty pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales, eight are members of or have close dealings with the Church, which indicates just how much Medieval life is dominated by the Church, and how widespread it’s influence was. It is these descriptions of these ecclesiastical characters that demonstrates how the combination of larger amounts of power and money flowing into the Church have undermined the previously ascetic discipline, and distorted it’s moral values.



The Monk is presented as a man of the world, who relishes in good food, recreation and freedom. Monks in those days actually had to take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience, living separate from the rest of the world so as to prevent any distractions from interfering with serving God. However, the Monk is a complete failure in those respects, as he loves the luxuries to be had in life. He rejects the monastic ways, of silence and prayer, as being out-dated, where he says “Thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre”, and that he is for the “newe world”. It is the “olde thinges” that embody the principles on the monastic order, and he argues heatedly against the restrictions of his cloistered. He has “eyen stepe” that seemed to burn, which demonstrates his love of fresh air and exercise, and burning vitality. This commanding personality makes the Monks seem less unlikable, because it gives a positive charcteristic to his otherwise decadent and disobedient ...