Literary Insights: Chaucer, Mansfield, and Medieval Narratives
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400), an English poet, author, and diplomat, was born in London and buried in Westminster Abbey. He served as a courtier and customs official and is widely known as the “Father of English Literature.”
About The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer’s most famous work, The Canterbury Tales, is characterized by its insightful portrayal of medieval society through diverse characters and stories. Influenced by classical literature and Italian poets like Dante and Boccaccio (author of The Decameron), this collection comprises 24 stories written in Middle English.
Structure and Themes
The tales are framed as a storytelling contest among pilgrims traveling to visit Saint Thomas Becket’s tomb in Canterbury. On their journey, the Host proposes the contest, where each pilgrim tells stories reflecting their personality and social status.
Key themes explored in The Canterbury Tales include:
- Corruption in the Church
- Justice, morality, and virtue
- Gender roles and marriage
- Selfishness and moral decay
The stories are often written in rhyming couplets, showcasing Chaucer’s use of humorous rhyme, satire, and social criticism.
Notable Characters
Among the memorable characters are:
- The Wife of Bath: A strong, experienced, and strong-willed woman who has been married five times.
- The Pardoner: A corrupt Church character who sells fake relics.
- The Miller: A crude and humorous storyteller.
Literary Impact and Historical Context
The Canterbury Tales played a crucial role in making Middle English a respected literary language, and its influence on English literature is profound. Chaucer’s ability to create vivid and relatable characters has ensured the work’s enduring popularity.
Chaucer wrote during significant historical events, including the Hundred Years’ War, the Black Death, and the Peasants’ Revolt.
Chaucer’s Legacy
Writers influenced by Chaucer include literary giants such as William Shakespeare and John Dryden. The Canterbury Tales continues to be read and adapted today, a testament to its timeless appeal.
Katherine Mansfield and “Miss Brill”
Katherine Mansfield Beauchamp (1888–1923) was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand. She moved to London in 1903 and attended Queen’s College London. Mansfield struggled with tuberculosis for four years and died at the age of 34 on January 9, 1923, in France.
Literary Influences and Style
Mansfield was significantly influenced by Modernism, an early 20th-century literary movement characterized by:
- Reaction to war and a break with tradition
- Interest in psychology and the inner life
- Use of stream of consciousness and ambiguity
- Exploration of irony, relevance, relationships, and social class
As a feminist writer, she often addressed women’s roles, spousal relationships, and gender dynamics. Her short stories are known for their blend of realism and symbolism, reflecting the truth of life.
Key Themes in Mansfield’s Work
Mansfield’s writing frequently explores themes such as:
- Women’s identity and autonomy
- Feelings of rejection and not belonging
- Isolation and loneliness
- The beauty of nature
- Memories and the passage of time
- Social class and societal expectations
- Appearance versus reality
- The pursuit of happiness
Notable Works
- The Daughters of the Late Colonel (1921): Explores themes of repression, loss, and the struggle for independence.
- Miss Brill (1920): A poignant short story focusing on loneliness, isolation, and the passage of time.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale: A Chaucerian Masterpiece
The Wife of Bath’s Tale, written by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340–1400), is a prominent part of his collection, The Canterbury Tales. This collection of 24 stories is told by pilgrims journeying to Canterbury Cathedral. Written in Middle English in the late 14th century, the tale is set in legendary medieval Britain during King Arthur’s time.
Key Themes and Context
The tale explores several profound themes:
- Sovereignty and power in relationships
- Appearance versus reality
- True nobility stemming from actions, not birth
- Repression through tradition
- The importance of women’s autonomy
Its cultural and historical context includes:
- Medieval views on marriage and gender roles
- The chivalric code of honor
- Class structures in medieval England
- Chaucer’s challenge to conventional thinking
- Early feminist perspectives in literature
Character Profile: The Wife of Bath (Alisoun)
The Wife of Bath, named Alisoun (also spelled Alison), is one of Chaucer’s most memorable characters. She is:
- Married five times
- A wealthy cloth-maker
- An experienced woman who understands the power dynamics of marriage
- Possesses strong opinions and defies the female conventions of her time
- A strong advocate for female sovereignty
Synopsis of the Tale
The Prologue
Before telling her tale, the Wife of Bath delivers a lengthy prologue about her life. She discusses her five marriages and her views on relationships, arguing for women’s dominance and critiquing men’s abuse of power. She frames marriage as a power struggle.
The Story Begins
The tale itself begins with a knight of the Round Table who commits sexual assault. The King wishes to execute him, but the Queen intervenes, asking for mercy. The Queen sends the knight on a quest: he must discover “What do women want most?” He is given one year to find the answer, and he travels widely, receiving many different responses.
The Old Woman’s Wisdom
He eventually encounters an old, ugly woman who provides him with the correct answer: “What women want most is sovereignty over their husbands and lovers.” In exchange for this life-saving answer, she demands that the knight marry her. He reluctantly agrees.
On their wedding night, the knight is distraught by her appearance. The old woman then imparts a crucial lesson about true nobility, explaining that it comes from deeds and virtue, not from birth or social status. She offers him a choice: to have her old and ugly but faithful and good, or young and beautiful but potentially unfaithful.
Resolution and Transformation
In a pivotal moment, the knight demonstrates that he has learned his lesson by giving the choice back to the old woman, thereby granting her sovereignty (control). As a reward, she transforms into both beautiful and faithful, and they live happily ever after.