Clean, Cleanness, And Cleanliness In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

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Depending on the character described in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales clean, cleanness, and cleanse are used to mean different things. Generally, these words are related to spiritual or physical cleanliness, but can also describe well-made items, physical attributes, and disease.
In the passage “Hir over-lippe wyped so clene” (Chaucer GP line 133), the word clene draws attention to the nun’s fastidious mannerisms. Rather than spiritual cleanliness - which a nun should devote herself to – clene is used to describe physical cleanliness. This illustrates the nun’s lack of spiritual focus by using a word which would typically be used to discuss spiritual matters to demonstrate the gluttony of the nun’s behavior. Also, clene may draw attention …show more content…

The other uses of the root word clene in The General Prologue are meant to be taken in a critical way, but regarding the Parson these words mean void of spiritual stain or free from sin. The Parson is presented as a true man of god in contrast to the nun, the Somonour, and the guildsmen to illustrate their sinful ways.
The contrasting meanings of the word clense are most apparent when the Somonour is described: “Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,” (Chaucer GP 631). In The Canterbury Tales the Somonour is the epitome of a bad clergyman. Furthermore, he cannot clense a disfiguring skin disorder — seen as a manifestation of sin — from his face because he lives a life of sin. To illustrate, the Parson seeking a worldly “oynement” (Chaucer GP 631) rather than spiritual redemption highlights the hypocrisy of his behaviour.
In conclusion, the various forms the words clene, clense, and clennesse can take, and the various meanings Chaucer uses for them in The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue serve to contrast the Parson against the gluttony of the nun, the sin of the Somonour, and the avarice of the guildsmen. The various meanings of clene: free from sin, fastidious, and well-made are applied to each character who embodies one of these meanings. Chaucer’s use of the same word to describe many characters, draws each character into contrast and illustrates their

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