chaucers pilgrimage

Knight

Brave, humble, and distinguished. No visible faults.

Strong Approval. He is the ideal of chivalry.

Squire

Lusty, musical, and romantic. Fault: A bit vain/focused on "lady-grace."

Approval. He is a typical, energetic youth. However gives respect to father

Plowman (Parson’s Brother)

Hard-working, God-fearing, and pays his tithes. No faults.

High Approval. He represents the ideal of the "Working Estate."

Yeoman

Fastidious, efficient, and well-armed. Hides his “servant” manner in style

Approval. Seen as a "proper forester."

Prioress (Nun)

Overly dainty; weeps for dead mice. Fault: More focused on courtly manners than God.

Irony/Gentle Disapproval. She is too "worldly."

Monk

Loves hunting and fine food. Fault: Ignores the Rule of St. Benedict (poverty/work).

Strong Irony. Chaucer calls him a "manly man," but he’s a bad monk.

Friar

Charming and persuasive. Fault: Corrupt; begs from the poor; frequents bars instead of lepers.

Strong Disapproval. He is predatory and greedy.

Parson

Holy, diligent, and patient. No faults.

High Approval. The only "good" member of the clergy.

Merchant

Solemn and serious. Fault: He is deeply in debt but hides it behind "business talk."

Neutral. Chaucer respects the hustle but notes the facade.

Clerk (Student)

Only cares for books and philosophy. Fault: Unemployed and relies on friends for money.

Approval. A true seeker of knowledge.

Sergeant of the Law

Wise and cautious. Fault: He pretends to be much busier than he actually is.

Mild Irony. Respects his skill, mocks his ego.

Franklin (Housekeeper)

Lives for pleasure (Epicurean). Fault: Gluttonous, though very generous to his neighbors.

Approval. He is a model of hospitality.

Doctor

Well-read in medicine/astrology. Fault: Loves gold more than his patients; doesn't read the Bible.

Slight Disapproval. He is spiritually healthy but greedy.

Wife of Bath

Loud, experienced, and argumentative. Fault: Lustful (5 husbands) and easily angered.

Mixed. Chaucer is fascinated by her vitality and "worldly" wisdom.

Miller

Loud and crude. Fault: Steals grain (the "golden thumb") and tells "filthy" stories.

Disapproval. He is a "buffoon" and a thief.

Reeve (Farm Moderator)

Meticulous and feared by workers. Fault: Embezzles from his lord and grows rich.

Disapproval. He is mean-spirited and dishonest.

Summoner (Judge)

Drunk and lecherous. Fault: Corrupt; takes bribes to overlook religious sins.

Extreme Disapproval. He is physically and morally repulsive.

Pardoner

Sings loudly; carries fake relics. Fault: Sells "pig's bones" as saintly relics to cheat the poor.

Strong Disapproval. The most corrupt character in the group.

Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry-Maker

Social climbers. Fault: They are more concerned with their status and their wives' desire to be called "Madam" than their craft.

Mild Irony. Chaucer sees them as pretentious but successful.

Cook

Excellent at cooking (mousses and pies). Fault: The sore on his leg suggests he is unhygienic, which contrasts with his "tasty" food.

Mixed. Respects his talent, but is "a pity" about the sore.

Skipper/Shipman (Pirate)

An excellent navigator. Fault: He is essentially a pirate; he steals wine from merchants and makes prisoners walk the plank.

Irony. Chaucer calls him a "good fellow" sarcastically while listing his crimes.

Manciple

A buyer of provisions for lawyers. Fault: Though illiterate, he outsmarts the educated lawyers by "skimming" money off the top.

Approval/Irony. Chaucer admires his street-smarts but notes his dishonesty.

Host (Harry Bailey)

Bold in speech, wise, and manly. He is the "judge" of the tales.

Approval. He is the merry leader of the "game."

Chaucer

Quiet and observant. Fault: As a narrator, he claims he’s just "recording" what others say, even if it's rude.

Self-Deprecating. He uses himself as a tool to tell the story.