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What is the message of the merchant’s tale?
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 kind of tale is the merchant’s 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.
How is the merchant presented in the merchant’s prologue?
In the Merchant’s Prologue, we learn that he is unhappily married to a shrewish woman who could win a fight against the devil. This state of affairs motivates him to tell a tale about a man who ignores his friend’s advice against marriage and comes to regret it.
What happens in the merchant’s tale?
In The Merchant’s Tale, January, a wealthy, elderly knight, decides to marry. His reasons are clear enough: He wants to fulfill God’s wish that man and woman marry, and he wants a son to inherit his estates. His close friend, Justinius, argues against marriage, pointing out the unfaithfulness of women.
What is the message of the merchants tale?
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 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 kind of person is the merchant in The Canterbury Tales?
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 setting of the merchant’s tale?
The Merchant is a wealth fur and clothing trader. He is a wealthy man and is at the top of the society ladder unlike many others. His business has treated him well and given him a good and easy life where he wants for very little. He is always portrayed highly.
What is the theme of The Franklin’s tale?
o ‘January is metaphorically blind throughout the tale, even when he regains his vision. ‘o ‘The prevalence of key and lock imagery suggests the mercantile possessiveness of January and his attitude to marriage. ‘Setting The tale is set in Pavia, a city in Italy, known at the time for its bankers and brothels.
How is the merchant described in the General Prologue?
We know the merchant is the fashionista of the group because he’s wearing a cloak of motley (variegated, colorful pattern), a Flemish beaver hat, and has a forked beard, all of which were current fashions at this time period.
How is the merchant described?
The Merchant is a very cynical man who has lots of disgust for his distasteful wife. He is a wealthier man thanks to his skills in business which helps him sell his clothing and furs. He boasts a long white beard and colorful clothing it is said that he always appears in high standings.
How does Chaucer describe the merchant?
In The Canterbury Tales, the description of the merchant provides an external layer of success. He is neatly groomed, and his clothes are colorful, clean, and new. He exudes an aura of success.
What does the merchant represent in Canterbury Tales?
John Lydgate, Troy Book and The Siege of Thebes The Merchant, representing the middle-class world of commerce, tells an intriguing and complex tale, engaging with one of the poem’s most commonly debated topics: marriage.
What happens in the Merchants tale?
In The Merchant’s Tale, January, a wealthy, elderly knight, decides to marry. His reasons are clear enough: He wants to fulfill God’s wish that man and woman marry, and he wants a son to inherit his estates. His close friend, Justinius, argues against marriage, pointing out the unfaithfulness of women.
What is the moral of the Merchant’s 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 does the merchant do in The Canterbury Tales?
The Merchant is a wealth fur and clothing trader. He is a wealthy man and is at the top of the society ladder unlike many others. His business has treated him well and given him a good and easy life where he wants for very little.
How does the husband go blind in the merchant’s tale?
Immediately after this Januarie is struck blind, although it is not explained why, though Chaucer’s suggestion is that his vanity, lust and general immorality have rendered him blind in body and in moral judgment. This disability, however, spiritually serves Januarie well.
