Medieval Literature Analysis: Beowulf and Chaucer’s Characters
Beowulf: Paganism and Christian Faith in the Epic Poem
Beowulf is a medieval work of art that has survived to this day and remains very present in modern culture. It is an important work within the history and development of the English language, belonging to the period known as Old English. To be more exact, it was written during the Middle Ages (500–1500), a long period of time that lacks internal coherence and resulted in major social, historical, and linguistic change.
This poem presents a mix of Christianity and paganism, forged on evangelical values and covered in a story with pagan overtones derived from Nordic culture. Throughout Beowulf’s history, however, one finds many core elements of Christianity:
- Man survives only through God’s protection.
- All earthly gifts flow from God.
- Man’s proper conduct is to be humble and altruistic.
However, there is also a strong sense of heroic pride within Beowulf, which is at times in direct conflict with these Christian values.
Divine Protection and Earned Virtue
Throughout the story, Beowulf repeatedly acknowledges God as his protector. When Beowulf relates his battle with Grendel’s mother, he states that, “The fight would have ended straightaway if God had not guarded me.” However, there is also a strong sense that God’s protection must be earned; a warrior must first be true to his values—courage, honesty, pride, and humility—and only then will he earn God’s protection.
Earthly Gifts and the Grace of God
In addition to earthly protection, there is also the sense that all earthly good, be it success or wealth, derives from God. For example, when about to fight Grendel’s mother in her cave, Beowulf sees a great weapon hanging on the wall. He does not take credit for this perception; the credit is given to God. Later in the passage, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that even the status of king is achieved through the grace of God. A king’s earthly power is only an illusion; the true power lies with God. Any “delight” that a man enjoys here on earth is achieved only through the grace of God.
Humility and the Avoidance of Doom
Moreover, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that earthly success, given by God, must be handled with humility and a sense of sharing, or the earthly king will bring on his own doom. Hrothgar tells Beowulf of a selfish king who is “angry-hearted” and covetous. This is strongly reminiscent of the Christian Ten Commandments, suggesting that material desire leads to wanting more and more until nothing will suffice. Hrothgar emphasizes that life itself is a gift from God.
Character Sketches from The Canterbury Tales
The Plowman: Piety and Labor
The Plowman is as holy and virtuous as his brother, the Parson. Living a simple life of hard labor, the Plowman has to do the dirtiest jobs of the medieval world. However, he never complains, for his labor is work he must do both for his fellow Christians and for Christ. Therefore, he loves God, whether the going is easy or hard.
The Plowman was the most recognizable medieval symbol of the poor and was associated with great virtue, especially after Chaucer’s contemporary, William Langland, wrote a long poem entitled Piers Plowman, about a Christ-like, hard-working plowman who must save his society from the consequences of their sinful lives. Here, as his brother does with religious figures, the Plowman provides an important point of contrast with other lower-class characters we see in the Tales, like the Miller and the Reeve.
The Cook: Culinary Skill and Unsavory Habits
We learn that the Cook has a decent repertoire of dishes and cooking techniques. Unfortunately, however, the Cook has a giant open sore on his leg, which Chaucer compares to a dessert. This comparison makes us reluctant to eat that dessert and to suspect that his kitchen is not completely clean, a suspicion the Host later confirms. The Host also says the Cook regularly sells stale meat pies. Overall, this is probably not a guy whose restaurant we’d like to frequent. With the Cook, then, we have a pure and simple example of disgusting humor.
The Prioress (Madame Eglantyne)
She is a woman trying to speak French, but she still speaks it poorly. She is a very refined woman who is constantly swearing (though mildly). She is so demure that she cares deeply about her external appearances, worrying excessively about them. She cares more about animals than human beings. Physically, she has a very large forehead, which was considered a sign of intelligence.
The Wife of Bath
She is a somewhat deaf woman who physically has large hips that she hides with her clothes. She wants to be in the front row of the church and be the first in any offering. Her clothing is notable: a large headdress, red stockings, and new shoes. Her primary occupation is her marriage (having had five husbands), and she knew the remedy for the “misfortunes of love.”