chaucer; the merchants tale Flashcards
morality and sin
Thesis:
chaucer explores the concept of morality in marriage, particularly mocking the traditional idealistic view of a marriage as a ‘sacred boond’, the various sinful desires such as lust, seceit and infidelity leads to his ultimate downfall and mockery of the senex amens. Januarie seems too bend traditional desires to suit his morals and this parodies damyan who undermines him, this is traditional of a fabilaux.
paragraph 1:
chaucer uses the theme of morality to critique social norms and utilises Januarie as a mockery to possibly highlight the flaws in a Christian marriage.
-“For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, She wolde him overmacche” This underlines the themes of mistrust and the inherent suspicion January feels towards women’s fidelity.
The irony becomes evident as the tale progresses, revealing May’s deceitful behavior and January’s blindness, both literal and figurative, to her infidelity. Chaucer uses this to critique the absurdity and hubris in January’s possessiveness and mistrust. Perhaps chaucer is also mocking women and seemingly agreeing that women are to be distrusted and will always have a lack of autonomy.
-critic: Schleusener ‘all good feelings [Chaucer’s] audience might have about love and marriage are demolished’
-Tatlock ‘religion itself is mocked’
paragraph 2:
chaucer critiques the power dynamics in marriage. Januaries attempt to lead and overpower may leads to his downfall. He is unaware that he himself is complicit in immorality by objectifying and controlling May, his moral blindness is prominent.
-“For as good is blind deceyved be As to be deceyved whan a man may se” this highlights the the struggle between moral integrity and sinful inclinations in Chaucer’s narrative. Januarie seems to only se the wrong done by may rather than his lustful and marital desires in order to get into heaven which is rather contradictive. his metaphorical blindness seems suggestive of…
the tale ultimately questios whether true mortality exists in a world driven by personal desires and social expectations.
Marriage and Love
Thesis:
The tale presents marriage as a transactional deed, the act of immorality is rather prominent in the idea of marriage. While love also seems to only be centre around lust and deception. Perhaps Chaucer is mocking the marital views of Christians and the cunning traits of women within a marriage….
Paragraph 1:
