A Discussion of Chaucer's Use of Satire to Reach Audiences

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Geoffrey Chaucer was an English Poet whose most famous work was “The Canterbury Tales”. The Canterbury Tales continues to be acknowledged for the beautiful rhythm of Chaucer’s language, and his characteristic use of clever, satirical wit. (A+E Networks) According to Encyclopedia Britannica, satire is a literary form in which human or individual vices, follies, abuses or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule. (“Satire” Encyclopedia Britannica) In this case, when each character of The Canterbury Tales gets up to talk, Chaucer slips in some remarks that may offend the audience to make a point. The three main places where Chaucer’s satire is prominent are in the General Prologue, when the Wife of Bath speaks, and when the Pardoner speaks.
To begin, Chaucer uses satire in the General Prologue. This prologue starts out by explaining how a group of people set out to go on a pilgrimage. The narrator then takes the time to explain many of the people actually attending. As part of the satire, we get characteristics thought to be typical of particular occupations, but exaggerated hugely. (Shmoop Editorial Team) Some examples could be the wart on the Miller's nose, or the puss-oozing wound on the Cook's leg. Since Knights are supposed to fight battles, the Knight in this story has fought in practically every battle in the past twenty years! Women back then were thought to be lustful but married, well the Wife of Bath mentioned had five husbands not including her numerous lovers. When introducing the Prioress, Chaucer uses satire when saying, “She was indeed by no means under grown” (Line 160) implying that she may have been a little chubby. The intended audience for this section of the writing is the commoners and middl...

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...y Chaucer." Bio True Story. A+E Networks, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. .
Day, Lauren. "What Is Chaucer Satirizing in the Pardoner's Tale?" Ask.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. .
Felbi, K. M. "Romance, Satire, and Contradictions on Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Tale." Teen Ink. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. .
"Satire." Encyclopedia Britannica. N. pag. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue & Frame Story Genre." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. .

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