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

7 Pages 1850 Words

lifestyle. Through his dress- fur-trimmed sleeves and supple boots- the monk’s taste for opulence is similarly disclosed. The irony of his position is portrayed in his description where Chaucer doesn’t just suggest, but actually points out that the Monk’s face was “as he hadde been enoint”, while he is hardly worthy of such a thing considering his recklessness.


The Monk is described as a “manly man”, and as a man with
which cleverly lets the pilgrim expound his own beliefs:

What sholde he studie and make himselven wood,
Upon a book in cloistre always poure,
Or swinken with his handes, and laboure,
As Austin bit?
(184-187)

This very energetic argument makes it seem that Chaucer is backing up his opinion. The Monk seems to be requesting not the way of life he has commited himself to, but the life free of religious duty and any other restrictions,as a well-off landlord. This line of reasoning is being repeated sarcastically, since this suggestion makes a mockery of his religious craft, and is so absurd, though the Monk himself does not realise this. Chaucer also critisizes the Monk t...