Write on the Female Characters in the General Prologue To the Canterbury Tales.

Answer

Write on the female characters as depicted in ‘Prologue to the Canterbury Tales’. [2021, 2019] ✪✪✪

Or, Comment on the female characters depicted in ‘The General Prologue to ‘The Canterbury Tales”. [2017] 

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340–1400) is the first great painter of women in English literature. In “The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales”, he gives lively and realistic portraits of women from different classes. From the noble Prioress to the bold Wife of Bath, Chaucer’s female characters are full of colour, humour, and human truth.

The Prioress – Madame Eglentyne: The Prioress’s real name is Madame Eglentyn. She is a nun. She represents the religious life of women in the 14th century. But Chaucer shows her more as a gentle lady than a true nun. She tries to behave like an upper-class lady with soft manners. She speaks French very nicely. However, the true Parisian French was unknown to her. She is kind-hearted but sentimental. She cries even when she sees a mouse caught in a trap. Chaucer says,

“She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mouse

Kaught in a trappe.”

(She would weep, if she saw a mouse

Caught in a trap.)

She was well taught in table manners. She never dipped her fingers too deeply in the sauce. She eats neatly. She never let a piece of food fall from her lips on her breast. Chaucer says,

“She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle.”

(She let no morsel fall from her lips.)

She loves her little dogs more than the poor. She feeds her little dogs roasted flesh and milk. Her golden brooch bears the words,

“Amor Vincit Omnia” 

(Love conquers all). 

This shows her worldly heart. Through her, Chaucer humorously shows how religion and vanity are often mixed in the Church. She is sweet, delicate, and graceful, but not truly spiritual.

The Second Nun: