Final answer:
The concept of pilgrimage in the 'Canterbury Tales' serves as a mirror of life's journey, bringing together people from all walks of medieval society to share stories and experiences, reflecting the importance of religious and social aspects of the era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of the overarching concept of pilgrimage as a microcosm in Canterbury Tales is significant because it represents a spiritual and physical journey reflective of life's experiences. In the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer uses the pilgrimage to bring together a diverse group of individuals from various levels of society. They share stories that offer a cross-section of medieval life, encompassing many of the period's social issues and cultural norms. Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages served as an important act of piety and devotion, often believed to bring the pilgrim closer to God, offer healing, and sometimes function as an act of penance. These journeys were transformative, allowing the medieval traveler to experience spiritual tourism, interact with people from different classes, and witness places of great religious significance such as Jerusalem, or in the case of Christians, Santiago de Compostela.
Pilgrims often sought to be closer to holy relics in a time where religion dominated everyday life, and churches along pilgrimage routes would benefit by becoming popular destinations, selling guidebooks and souvenirs to travelers. The entire process of embarking on a pilgrimage had various motivations, including religious duty, desire for adventure, and granted an opportunity for social interaction beyond one's local sphere. In the storytelling framework of the Canterbury Tales, the pilgrimage setting allows for the depiction of a microcosmic representation of medieval society through the personal tales of the pilgrims, each with their unique perspectives and experiences.