Question

Choose your favorite character from "The Prologue," and describe the character’s traits in your own words. Then, analyze how Chaucer’s description—his choice of words and details—brings out the traits you described. Finally, discuss how your chosen character represents English life in the Middle Ages.

Answer 1

My favorite character of "The prologue" is:

The Friar and it represents the English life in the middle ages by performing the perfect corrupt personality that people with power, social position, or noble linage had and how they took advantage of someone else and fought to be as good as they could in the eyes of society.

Step-by-step explanation:

First of all the Friar is a well-spoken person, with good manners, he also is incredibly gentle. But that is for the common eye. Because he also takes advantage of the ladies and makes them believe he helps them by providing them something no one else can give them. When reality is that he just lies to them. He also tries to be always with people with power and tries to use them as much as he can for his benefit. This is the clearest example of the abuse of power and authority. People with power executed in the English middle ages.

Answer 2

The Pardoner.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chaucer describes the pardoner (someone whose job is to sell official church pardons) as a trickster who deceives people and makes them buy fake relics. This states how Church was already being criticized for tricking people and taking advantage of people's faith in order to get money. Chaucer, then, criticizes Church and pardoners who did not practice what they preached. This happened before the Reformation, led by Martin Luther, which criticized the sell of pardons and stated that Salvation could only be achieved through each person's actions and not through money. This is portrayed in the following quote:

“And thus I preach against the very vice

I make my living out of—avarice. a

And yet however guilty of that sin

Myself, with others I have power to win

Them from it, I can bring them to repent;

But that is not my principal intent." (23-28)