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| The Miller’s Tale - Canterbury Tales |
The Canterbury Tales is at once one of the most famous work of literature ever written. It begins with the introduction of each of the pilgrims making their journey to Canterbury to the tomb of Thomas a Becket. Chaucer comes up with a technique that allowed him to bring together the different groups of people. Canterbury Tales represent the society with the different social classes. These pilgrims include a noble Knight, his son the Squire, the honorable Clerk, a Merchant, a Man of Law, a Miller etc. The Miller’s tale is the second tale of Canterbury Tales. After the Knight's story, the Host asks Monk to tell a story of his own to repay the Knight’s story with. But the Miller, who is very drunk, insists to tell a story of his own. He claims that his tale is a legend, but reminds the other pilgrims that he is drunk and can not be responsible for what he says. Then he explains he will tell a story of a carpenter and his wife, and how a clerk made a fool of the carpenter. Then he tells his story even if Reeve, who is also carpenter, protests that the tale will insult carpenters.
He wrote during the literary time period, "The Middle Ages". Most of the literature works were written by the religious clerics and monks, so only some people knew how to read and write and they were especially the religious people. Most poets during that time were writing in an earlier version of the language which is know as French or Latin. But there were some other books which are secular and written with English language, like Canterbury Tales. While writing the Canterbury Tales Chaucer uses vernacular language, so that makes it easier to read and to understand. And vernacular language helps him to appeals a mass group of people.
The late 14th century was a chaotic time in England. After the bad effects of Black Death, many people were questioning the Church’s authority. That plague killed almost the 1/3 of Europe’s population. We can see this effect in the Canterbury Tales. Several characters in the Tales are religious characters, and the very setting of the pilgrimage to Canterbury is religious. That makes religion a significant theme of the work. Beside of these, that was the time when the first printing press established. For the first time it was possible to rapidly and mechanically reproduce multiple copies of the same work in a short time. So with the help of printing press, more people could access to books and read them.
Many of the prologues and tales contain satire which ridicules people who are greedy, liar, self-importance. And some of the tales that the pilgrims tell are fabliaux. The Miller’s Tales is an example for fabliaux. Fabliaux often do involve triangles between a cheated husband, a woman and her lover, and they usually do amount to a sexual joke. So Chaucer uses satire to ridicules the people. He mocks with society by using his characters, with vulgar comedy. A wife who cheats her husband, a man who loves a woman who is already get married. These are the shadows of real characters from the real life. Chaucer satires the manners of the society by using his fictional characters.
In conclusion , by writing these works, Chaucer shed light on the history of English literature and wrote it in a language that was understood by both the noble segment and the common people. Chaucer's works are considered the beginning of the Renaissance Renaissance. people are treated one by one, and for the first time, real characters appear instead of allegorical types. it is very enjoyable. Canterbury Tales represent the society with the different social classes. in the Middle Ages. Instead of the monotonous lectures and overwhelming narrative of his concern in making the religious accents of his time in his works and the literary means are irony, grinding and mocking; He is the first author and poet who wrote about real characters and criticized the social order. In addition, after the Anglo Saxon period, only the English spoken by the peasants was improved by using French words. He kept the English alive. Chaucer wrote during the literary time period. Before coming printing press to England only some people knew how to read and write and they were especially the religious people. With the arrival of the printing press in England and the help of the printing press, more people would find and read the books. In the 14th century England has some historical event and we can effect of the events in the Chaucer’s Miller’s Tales. When we begin to read it , it looks like funny stories but we need think deeply and then we can take the messages ..It was the best stories in that period .
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| The Miller’s Tale - Canterbury Tales |
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