The intention behind Chaucer’s ‘character portraits’ within The Canterbury Tales is a widely debated topic with ideas ranging from Hulbert’s opinion that they are reflections of real people and therefore of humankind as a whole at the time to Jill Mann’s idea that Chaucer was satirising the estates rather than any one individual. Whilst many of the pilgrims introduced are thought to be hyperbolic allegories for specific classes used to satirise the estate system present at the time others argue that he instead chose to use irony to highlight the hypocrisy of the time. The credulous tone present when he accepts the pilgrims’ versions of themselves that they put forward rather than the self that they actually are proves Chaucer to be a less …show more content…
If this interpretation is correct then even from the opening line there is an air of positivity in the way Chaucer writes about the monk, whilst his more frivolous life could lead to him being viewed negatively Chaucer doesn’t openly portray him as such. The phrase “manly man “ could be interpreted in two ways leading to different meanings for the line. Either the Monks generosity/friendliness is being described or his virility, which carries an undertone of sexuality not commonly associated with a man of the church. This break from the archetype of a typical Monk is shown throughout the extract. The fact that the Monk owns stables of fine horses and the fastest hounds adds to the idea that rather than being based on any one man as it was previously thought, this character is an allegorical hyperbole for the more frivolous of the estate. Yet again Chaucer chooses to present the Monk in a rather jovial way, his description of the mans shiny head and face due to being rubbed with oil could be seen as almost accepting of the monks love of life, his vitality. However whispers of sarcasm and disapproval can arguably be seen. The Monk violates his monastic orders with almost everything he does and whilst he is not openly criticized the way in which Chaucer chose to order his ideas arguably speak volumes as to the opinion he held of …show more content…
The idea of the prominent/bright eyes gleaming like fire is interesting and not a usual comparison for a man of God due to the sinful connotations of the symbol of fire. Coupled with the image of his eyes “rollynge in his heed” a slightly repulsive appearance is created. The portrayal of a fat and shining man with prominent eyes like fire rolling in his head is not a pleasant one and the placement of this description at the end of the extract introducing the Monk could be seen as a deliberate move by Chaucer to highlight the ridiculousness of the man who has seemingly broken all of his vows and is not ashamed neither has he penanced for the fact. Arguably quite a repugnant image is brought forth towards the end and the audience is left with the idea of a physically repulsive man swaddled in the finest fabrics atop a magnificent horse, which is quite different from a stereotypical