Geoffrey Chaucer Research Paper

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Geoffrey Chaucer: A Social Commentator One can easily see Geoffrey Chaucer as a social commentator through a thorough reading of the Canterbury Tales. While Chaucer does not directly comment on fourteenth-century England, he conveys his attitudes on certain topics through the characters he creates. Chaucer’s main topic concerns the class structure in England. Through Chaucer’s deep characterization, the reader can understand the conditions of society in fourteenth-century England. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales for two primary reasons. The first and main objective was to entertain his audience. He wrote the Canterbury Tales specifically in the common vernacular, Middle English, to appeal “a handful of courtiers, gentlemen, churchmen, professional men, officials, and city merchants." (qtd. in Creighton 2). If Chaucer had written the Canterbury Tales in Latin, his focus would have been on a higher estate. Also, this purpose is evident in an overall analysis of the types of characters. The variety of the characters and vibrancy of their stories are proof that Chaucer is writing to the public rather than only the esteemed (Creighton 3). If Chaucer had written the Canterbury Tales in Latin, his focus would have only been on a higher estate. The second purpose for Chaucer’s creation of the Canterbury Tales was …show more content…

The Monk is more interested with his pastime of hunting than devoting his time to studying the Scriptures. The Friar disregards the poor, wears expensive clothes, and cheats rich women out of their money. The Summoner is constantly drunk, and he constantly wanted recognition. The Pardoner, debatably the most wicked of the four, understands that he is motivated purely by money, yet he does not change his ways. After his ironic tale, he even offers the pilgrims his previously denounced fake relics (Chaucer, et al. 943-5). All four of these men do not fulfill what their vocation

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