I wonder why most of the characters tell stories about the other characters. I was partially expecting the Merchant's tales to be a response to this one, as was the Reeve's tale to the Miller's tale. I think these tales really show the variety of personality traits addressed in the prologue.
The Shipman told this story because he does not care much about what happens and does not pay attention to all the drama. He told a story about someone who has bad things happen to him but he lets it go and is not mad.
This story could have allegorical meaning and provide a moral lesson having to do with the church. The action of the wife spending money to look better in her husband's eyes is similar to the action of people paying pardons to the church to look better in god's eyes. In the end, the husband forgives her and wishes she had not spent the money. Chaucer is trying to say with this that the will of god does not have to do with money and the buying of pardons, but the person you are.
I wonder why most of the characters tell stories about the other characters. I was partially expecting the Merchant's tales to be a response to this one, as was the Reeve's tale to the Miller's tale. I think these tales really show the variety of personality traits addressed in the prologue.
ReplyDeleteThe Shipman told this story because he does not care much about what happens and does not pay attention to all the drama. He told a story about someone who has bad things happen to him but he lets it go and is not mad.
ReplyDeleteThis story could have allegorical meaning and provide a moral lesson having to do with the church. The action of the wife spending money to look better in her husband's eyes is similar to the action of people paying pardons to the church to look better in god's eyes. In the end, the husband forgives her and wishes she had not spent the money. Chaucer is trying to say with this that the will of god does not have to do with money and the buying of pardons, but the person you are.
ReplyDelete