Satire in the canterbury tales prologue. Satire in The Canterbury Tales 2022-11-01

Satire is a literary technique that uses wit, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or poke fun at the shortcomings of individuals, institutions, or society as a whole. The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales serves as an introduction to the characters who will be telling the tales, and Chaucer uses satire to poke fun at the various social classes and occupations represented among the pilgrims.

One of the most prominent examples of satire in the Prologue is the depiction of the Monk. Monks were supposed to be men of religion who dedicated their lives to prayer and study, but Chaucer's Monk is more interested in hunting and leisure than in spiritual matters. He is described as "a noble man in his degree," but Chaucer goes on to say that he is "a man of great authority" when it comes to hunting and "knew well the old escaunces" (lines 72-73). This ironic portrayal of a monk as a sportsman rather than a spiritual guide suggests that Chaucer is criticizing the clergy for their lack of dedication to their religious duties.

Chaucer also satirizes the Friar, who was supposed to be a member of the clergy dedicated to helping the poor and sick. However, Chaucer's Friar is more interested in using his position to gain money and favors from the wealthy. He is described as a "limiter," meaning that he is skilled at manipulating the system to his advantage and obtaining the maximum amount of money from people through his position as a friar. This portrayal of the Friar as a greedy and unscrupulous character highlights Chaucer's criticism of the corrupt practices of some members of the clergy.

The Prologue also includes a satirical portrayal of the Monk and Friar's opposite, the Pardoner. While the Monk and Friar are depicted as being corrupt and lacking in their religious duties, the Pardoner is a religious man who is overly concerned with his own salvation. He is described as having "a pillow-berd of wax" (line 553), which suggests that he is so worried about his own salvation that he has a pillow made of wax on which to sleep, so that he will not be tempted to sin in his dreams. This depiction of the Pardoner as overly concerned with his own salvation to the point of absurdity highlights Chaucer's criticism of the Pardoner's lack of concern for the well-being of others.

In conclusion, Chaucer uses satire in the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales to criticize the shortcomings of the various social classes and occupations represented among the pilgrims. He pokes fun at the Monk and Friar for their lack of dedication to their religious duties and their corrupt practices, and he satirizes the Pardoner for his overly concerned with his own salvation. Through his use of satire, Chaucer offers a biting critique of the society of his time.