What Is The Nature Of Evil In The Merchant's Tale

Continuing on one can see that each tale has its own meaning and was done so by Chaucer to show how he perceived people to be in this time period in England. "The Merchant’s Prologue introduces images of enclosure to suggest the dynamic that will occur between January, May, and Damyan during the course of the fabliau-like tale, which will end in the cuckolding of old January and the successful verbal escape of May and Damyan from January’s valid accusations of fornication against them" (Zedolik par 2). The image painted by Chaucer in the Merchant’s Tale had to have been from some outside source not just pure inspiration on his part. This trend of very detailed descriptions of events continue on throughout the work. The author begins to present

Out of all the themes presented in each tale sin comes up the most and that’s not just a coincidence. “The fact that sin is not always punished and sometimes might seem to be at least tacitly approved in The Canterbury Tales raises the question of the sincerity of Chaucer’s insistence that all his writing reflects Christian doctrine. The tale of the Parson goes far in answering this question. The Parson is not Chaucer’s most interesting character, and up to the time of his tale, he is an observer. Someone else, the Knight or the Host, steps forward to make peace. The Parson is presented as a man of great integrity in the “General Prologue,” but he is silent throughout most of the work. When the Host introduces him rather rudely, he rejects the latter’s suggestion of a “fable.” The Host then suggests a quick tale; the Parson replies with the longest one of all. His tale, though far from the most popular among today’s readers, has qualities that Chaucer’s contemporaries surely would have recognized. It would have struck them as less dull than we find it. This tale would have helped the medieval audience understand the entire Canterbury Tales more clearly than today’s typical reader. It is one of only two tales composed in prose rather than verse, but the prose clearly and vigorously resolves the moral issues posed by the waywardness of the pilgrims and of the characters in their tales. It explains penitence, the process of contrition, confession, and satisfaction that each sinner must undergo. Also, it explains thoroughly the Seven Deadly Sins, which all good pilgrims must strive to avoid” (Ellis par 3). The author makes sure the reader understands why the Parson’s Tale is important because of where it is placed in the story. Also how it doesn’t apply as much to us today than it did to medieval readers. In today’s society