Friday, September 23, 2011
The Canterbury Tales
Within Chaucer's framework collection of stories, he experimented with all the major literary genres of the day. "The Miller's Tale" and "The Merchant's Tale" are both fabliaux. It seems, however, that both are similar (ironically) to "The Knight's Tale." In what ways are the tales by the miller and the merchant similar (beyond the obvious love triangle) to each other--and then simlar to the tale of Palamon and Arcite?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
In addition to the obvious similarity of a love triangle within both “The Miller’s Tale” and “The Merchant’s Tale,” the women in both tales find a way to deceive their husbands in order to be with another, younger lover. Both tales deal with the scenario of an older man marrying a young, fair wife. As many of the tales have alluded to in “The Canterbury Tales,” the idea of an older man taking a younger wife leads him to vulnerability of her beauty and deception. The narrators throughout the many tales have often warned of the risk an older man takes when marrying a young, beautiful wife.
When looking at the similarities between both “The Miller’s Tale” and “The Merchant’s Tale” and the tale of Palamon and Arcite, the obvious love triangle exists. In addition to that, the concept of two men fighting to win over the love and affection of a single woman is present in all three tales. The women in all three tales also seem to be described as young, fair, and beautiful. I think one major, important difference between “The Miller’s Tale” and “The Merchant’s Tale” and the tale of Palamon and Arcite is that Emily in “The Knight’s Tale” is not deceptive like both Alison and May are in the first two tales, respectively. Perhaps Emily is not deceptive because “The Knight’s Tale” does not put as much focus on her as do the other two tales on their female characters. However, love and relationships are largely the themes focused on in all three tales.
In both the Miller and Merchant's tale, there is that typical similarity of characters as well as plots. You have the main character who is older (John and January) and is married to a young beautiful girl (Alison and May). Both stories also include a young man, who the main character is close with, who falls in love with the main characters wife. It just so happens that the young men confess their love to the young ladies and they begin a secret love affair. The older main characters are tricked by their young men (Nicholas and Damian) and are fooled so that the young cheating couple can have sex. However the way the stories differ is in their endings. In the Miller's tale, John is considered crazy for thinking the world was going to flood and Nicholas and Alison deny ever knowing about such a thing. In the Merchant's tale, Damian and May have their way, but when January regains his sight and sees what's going on, May convinces him that he saw nothing and they go on living their lives. The young couple ends up being very manipulative.
It seems as if the Knight's tale was the most wholesome. There was pure love involved, and the way Palamon and Arcite went about expressing their love was not vulgar, but true. That's what I think the other two stories are lacking. You have Nicholas and Alison who are deceiving John so they can have their way with each other, yet looking at Palamon and Arcite, neither got to touch Emily or speak to her until the very end. Their struggle to be with the girl they yearned for was kept pure until one was able to marry at the end. This commitment is lacking in the Miller and Merchant's tale. You have the courtly love of Palamon and Arcite, and then there is the lustful deceiving characters. I think the tales don't really have much similarity aside from the love triangle
Lisa,
I completely agree with you on Emily. It might absolutely be that since Emily was not really focused on in the Knight's tale, she didn't turn out to be deceptive. That is a great thought. In the other two tales, we have the young ladies who are desired by other men and they jump at the opportunity, whereas Emily was never given a choice between Palamon and Arcite. I also think that there might have something to do with stature in the stories. Emily is the sister of Theseus and has completely given herself to Venus. She is a lady of morals and sticks true to her virtues. However, the other ladies we some across in the other two stories are only young or beautiful. We are told nothing else besides their mannerisms and looks. I'm thinking it could also be the class of women that dictated the way they acted as well.
“The Miller’s Tale” and “The Merchant’s Tale” both have the same character list- one young and beautiful woman that is married to an older man, and then a younger man that the woman secretly gets with. The most common link between the stories is that of the manipulating wife. Both Alison and May cheat on their husbands, therefore disgracing their marriage vows. However, after Alison tricks her husband she remains with the younger man, Nicholas, and tells the town John is crazy. May, on the other hand, cheats with Damian, then lies to January to cover it up and they continue on with their marriage. Both the stories are raunchy and openly talk about sex.
“The Knight’s Tale” holds the same love triangle aspect with the two men and one woman. Although the two men are fighting against each other, it lacks the element of vulgarity. I feel that the only link between the three stories is that they all contain two main men characters and one beautiful, young woman. Emily is not manipulating or a cheater is any way in “The Knight’s Tale,” nor does the tale discuss sex. Therefore breaking the link of the conniving female character.
Lisa,
You and I seem to agree that Alison and May were the manipulating women, whereas Emily was not at all. You’re right, “The Knight’s Tale” does not give the reader much insight on the female character. That tale is much less about the role of women and more about the chivalric code and brotherhood. Relationships are of course the main focus of all three tales, yet really only “The Merchant’s Tale” and “The Miller’s Tale” deal with marriages. In “The Knight’s Tale” the marriage happens in the end, and it is just barley mentioned, unlike the other two tales. “The Knight’s Tale” is a story of how a marriage was formed, and the other two are stories of the downfalls of marriages.
The Miller’s Tale and The Merchant’s Tale are similar in that they are both about old men who are married to young, beautiful women who are unfaithful. The young wives, Alison in The Miller’s Tale, and May in The Merchant’s Tale, deceive their old husbands by having affairs with a young, trusted employee of their husband. In both stories, there is also a predetermined plan for the lovers to get together without the knowledge of the jealous husband.
These stories are similar to the story of Palamon and Arcite in the Knight’s Tale because each of these men are competing for the love of a beautiful, young woman. The difference however is that in The Miller’s Tale and The Merchant’s Tale, the husbands are unaware of their wives affection for other men, and both husbands wind up looking like fools by their wife’s deceit. The three tales have little similarities other than the love triangle of two men and one woman.
In addition to the comments above I agree that there always seems to be some type of battle between two men over who "wins" their beloved lady. It is interesting to me though because I feel like through out all these stories the women have a little more credit than they are given. By this I mean that these women in a way are controlling these men through "love" or "lust" either way, the men are still reacting and acting to these women.
I am still amazed at how May was able to convince January so easily that he was decieved in what he saw her doing. He actually ends up apologizing to her! We see in the other stories as well that the women control the destinys of the men.
The only story that I feel is different in this aspect is "The Nun's Priest's Tale". We discussed in class how Chantecleer ignores Pertelote, which is interesting because in all the other tales the women offer advice and great foresight.
Mariah-
I like how you pointed out that in The Miller's Tale, Alison ends the story with Nicholas, and May remains with January even after she has cheated on him. I had not thought about this distinction between the two stories until you mentioned this.
I'm sure that May stayed with January because she had convinced him that she was true and he was going to leave her his estate and wealth. Perhaps Alison would receive John's estate as well, although I don't believe the story mentions that.
In this way, the women, at least May, even further decieved their husbands by being unfaithful and taking their earthly belongings.
Jill,
I hadn't thought of the similarity you mentioned about the men in both "The Miller's Tale" and "The Merchant's Tale" being unaware of their respective woman's deceit. It's true that both men in each tale were made out as fools once their women went to be with their younger lovers. The two tales make women out to be extremely deceitful and malicious. Neither tale really illustrates positive characteristics when it comes to women and relationships.
Post a Comment