Prologue 1-32 Flashcards
“Shrew” “ my wives cursednesse”
-typical antifeminsit view
-metaphor based on observation that when they are trapped shrews screech and bite, she is cursed carrying the sense both of hateful and evil
-metaphors that women are ill tempered and annoying
-cursed link with the devil as he says how she would be a great match with the devil
“ there’s a long and large difference betwix grisildis and of my wyf” “for even though fiend were to wed her she would outmatch him”
- sets her up as the potential antithesis of griselda
-good women in heaven are presented as th brides of Christ
-stories that are popular in chaucers day of women whom terrible things happen when they re seduced by the devil - however the merchant asserts the devil would be he one who would be sorry if he married this woman
- claims even the evil would be outmatched by his wife
“Snare”
“Even the fiend were to wed her she would outmatch him”
- hyperbole emphasises the depth of his bitterness, invited readers to view his testimony with a degree of skepticism
-very melo dramatic
“Thise month two”
-he’s only been married tw months
-undermines his case
-hyperbolic makes us skeptical of his argument kind of absurd
-situational irony, speaks with such authority in the “sorrow” and woes of marriage despite only being married for two months
- his overconfidence highlights his narrow perspective
“Sorrow” “care”
-repeated shows the emotional toll this marriage has on him
- emphasising his misery in this marriage
“Assay whoso whole and he shal finde”
“That is seye sooth”
Basically, ask anyone, try it and they will find what I say. It’s true.
-he’s directly addressing the host in the audience here inviting him to sympathise with him
“ I sey truth by Seint Thomas of indie”
-not reliable disciple as he denied Jesus
Swears by Thomas who had to touch the wounds of the resulted Christ before he would believe in the resurrection
- implying the merchant himself had to try marriage before ever knew of its plights and know how bad it could be.
Use of irony hyperbole and allusion
-shape merchants lament as both comical and tragic
