What is the theme of the merchants tale?
The Merchant’s Tale, one of the 24 stories in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. The story draws on a folktale of familiar theme, that of an old man whose young wife is unfaithful. Old Januarie is deceived by his young wife, May, and her lover, Damyan, after Januarie suddenly goes blind.
What is the theme of the Merchant’s tale give examples?
The difficulty of marriage is a theme that appears often throughout The Canterbury Tales. The Merchant seems the perfect traveler to tell this tale of deceit and corruption in marriage, as his own opinion of the institution is quite soured by his recent experience.
What is the moral lesson of the merchants tale?
Yes, the merchant’s tale does have a moral. The entire tale is full of instances where January misinterprets the Bible and his religious teachings. The tale could be demonstrating to the audience why they should not think as January does, because they could have equally bad things happen to them.
What is the theme in the Knight’s tale?
The Knight’s Tale is a romance that encapsulates the themes, motifs, and ideals of courtly love: love is like an illness that can change the lover’s physical appearance, the lover risks death to win favor with his lady, and he is inspired to utter eloquent poetic complaints.
What is ironic about the merchant in Canterbury Tales?
In medieval England, to be in debt was a sign of weak morals. So when Chaucer tells us that the Merchant was a “worthy man withal,” we can probably take that a bit ironically. In the Merchant’s Prologue, we learn that he is unhappily married to a shrewish woman who could win a fight against the devil.
What is the moral of the Franklin tale?
“The Franklin’s Tale” in “The Canterbury Tales” is a fable. Its theme is a moral: Never make a promise you do not intend to keep. While Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” reads like a series of fables, the entire work remains timeless because of the connection it makes with its readers.
What is ironic about the Pardoner’s subject?
The Pardoner tells a story with the intention of teaching the company that greed is the root of all evil, yet he tries to swindle them and get contributions even after he admits they are fake. This is ironic because he should be practicing what he preaches, but he does the exact opposite.
What are the themes of the wife’s tale?
After reading Alisoun’s prologue, it is not surprising that the key theme is the control of wives over their husbands. Not only does the Wife of Bath speak from experience, but from her own beliefs about love and sex.
What are the themes of the Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales Themes
- Social Satire. Medieval society was divided into three estates: the Church (those who prayed), the Nobility (those who fought), and the Peasantry (those who worked).
- Competition.
- Courtly Love and Sexual Desire.
- Friendship and Company.
- Church Corruption.
- Writing and Authorship.
Why does the merchant go to Canterbury?
The merchant’s main motivation is “th’encrees of his wynnyng” (General Prologue 277), or making money, and the military protection of trade routes that allows him to do so – these subjects are all he talks about. Although he appears prosperous, we know that the Merchant is actually in debt.
What does a merchant do?
A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as industry, commerce, and trade have existed.
What is the theme of the merchant’s tale?
‘The Merchant’s Tale’ in Chaucer’s famous classic of a group’s journey to Canterbury features a familiar story of marriage between an old man and a beautiful young girl. As usual, this arrangement has its problems.
What is the main theme of The Merchant of Venice?
In ‘The Merchant’s Tale’ Chaucer concerns himself with many themes, amongst which are marriage, honesty, religion and women. The opening of the tale explores the Merchant’s negative outlook on marriage and how bitterly he feels towards his wife ‘I have a wyf, the worst that may be’.
What does the merchant say about weeping in the Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales Summary and Analysis of The Merchant’s Tale. Following the Clerk’s pronouncement on marriage, the merchant claims that he knows all about weeping and wailing as a result of marriage – and so, he thinks, do many people who are married.
What is an unfortunate commentary about marriage in the merchant’s tale?
The Merchant’s Tale. And an unfortunate commentary about marriage is exactly what the Merchant delivers. The tale begins when a wealthy old Knight decides to marry, but only someone young. The village celebrates the union of the January/May couple.