9/15/2019 The Religious Life of the Fourteenth Century in the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales

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The Religious Life of the Fourteenth Century in the

Prologue of The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer was the first great English poet who presented a realistic picture of men and women of the latter
fourteenth century England in the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. The religious life or the ecclesiastical 15
life of the time is mirrored through six sketches of religious characters—the Prioress, the Monk, the Friar, Shares
the Summoner, the Pardoner and the Parson.

These studies of
religious personages
show that Chaucer
aimed at introducing
reforms in the church,
such as the greater use
of the English language
Geoffrey Chaucer
in place of Latin in the
(1343-1400)
church service.
Chaucer satirized mildly the numerous vices which
had crept into the church.

Chaucer reflects the religious conditions of his times by describing a few religious characters in 'The
Prologue'. These portraits show how the church became a place of corruption and how most of the
clergymen, instead of devoting their time and energy to religious meditation and genuine redemption of
fallen souls, were addicted to extravagance and Epicureanism. Instead of living a life of piety and holiness,
most of the ecclesiastical figures lived a life of depravity. They were more interested in material comfort
and ease, than in a rigorous life of a pious religious person. They were interested in the mundane affairs of
life and were also responsible for deviating the holy atmosphere by which methods of earning money.

The prioress was the head of a convent. She was a member of a religious order, but at hearts she was an
aristocratic lady, fit to be the heroine of some romance. This good lady is sometimes condemned outright
as worldly, ambitious, and insensitive to the sufferings of others. But this is very harsh and largely
undeserved criticism. There is no indication that she was neglectful of her responsible office as head of a
convent, unless, indeed her participation in a pilgrimage is to be taken as a neglect of her duties in view of
the fact that some of the bishops of the time were strongly against nuns leaving their convents, even to go
on a pilgrimage. But Chaucer says nothing of all this. What he does note is the Prioress's concern with
good manners and courtly etiquette. Her little indulgences, like displaying her forehead, which should have
been veiled or carrying a few ornaments, are noted by the poet with genial tolerance, especially as the
Amor of her motto. On the other hand, Chaucer credits his Prioress with several virtues with amply offset
such weaknesses. She was moderate in her speech, and her concern for small animals is a lovable trait in

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9/15/2019 The Religious Life of the Fourteenth Century in the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales

an age when cruelty was all too common. She was a woman of 'feeling' or 'sensibility'. The Prioress
emerges as a careful nun who is also a lady, plainly over-anxious to do the right things and prepared to err
on the right side rather than offend against good manners or to be false to her tender heart.

Chaucer presents a Monk who cares only for hunting and good cheer. He was a man of the world. He liked
hunting, horses and greyhounds, fur lined sleeves, gold pins and love knots to the chapel service. He is an
epicurean. He is interested in hunting than in the performance of his religious duties. The Monks were
supposed to lead a life of mental and physical discipline and were specifically forbidden to go out of their
monastery. They were also expected to refrain from the pleasures of the world, such as hunting, merry- 15
Shares
making, putting on fine dresses and leading a life of ease, comfort and luxury. But during Chaucer's time,
the monastic orders had forgotten the rules of Monastic life. Chaucer denounced the Monk for 'not being
sufficiently Monastic'.

The friars were religious men who were dedicated to active service in the world, in contradiction to the
monks who were dedicated to cloistered contemplation. Their institution was to check the corruption that
had crept into monastic orders and thus effect reform in the various monasteries of the church. Since the
property was regarded as the food of all evils, the friars were forbidden to own any property and thus lead
a life of asceticism. But in Chaucer's age friars also became corrupt and indulged in all sorts of sinful
activities. They adopted many hypocritical devices for amassing wealth. They granted easy repentance in
exchange of silver. As they were licensed to hear confessions, they could easily come into contact with
women and seduce them. Chaucer hinted at the moral depravity of the friars of the time by that he knew
all the town taverns and every inn-keeper and barmaid better than lepers and beggar-women.

The Pardoner and the Summoner were traders in religion. The Pardoner was the thoroughgoing cheat
who played on the credulity of the common people. He was a seller of 'pardons' or 'indulgences'. The
proceeds from the sale of these pardons had to go to some religious institution, but there were many
dishonest pardoners who feathered their own nest and Chaucer's Pardoner was no exception to it. He is a
crafty scoundrel and knows the tricks of the trade very well. Like the Pardoner, the Summoner was also a
depraved fellow, a corrupt hanger on of the medieval church. He frightened simpletons and quiet men,
blackmailed young folk in the diocese; and in return for a quart of wine, would tolerate the keeping of a
mistress by a fellow for twelve months.

Chaucer also draws a picture of the poor Parson, who was virtuous, meek and polite, a shepherd who
protected his flock from the wolf. The Parson stands in contrast to the other ecclesiastical characters who
are mildly satirized by Chaucer. The portrait of the Parson snows there were still some persons like him
who set before themselves the ideal of Evangelical piety and tried to follow the example of Christ. All was
not lost.

Cite this Page!

Shrestha, Roma. "The Religious Life of the Fourteenth Century in the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales."
BachelorandMaster, 14 Mar. 2018, bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamericanpoetry/the-religious-life-
prologue-the-canterbury-tales.html.

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9/15/2019 The Religious Life of the Fourteenth Century in the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales

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