The Merchants Tale key quotations. Flashcards
“I have a wyf…
Also, explain what it means.
The worste that may be” This is the abrupt bitterness the merchant feels over his wife.
“A worthy…
“Toun and…
“Bodily…
Knight” - his status, how he is first described.
Tour” - what he owns, shows wealth.
Decits”- he is sexually promiscuous and follows his desires.
“Wyfless man for…
sixty yeer” - shows his desire for marriage and to create an heir.
“Of small…
degree” - this is first used to describe May and links to her low social status, unlike Januarie. Marriage between people of different classes was frowned upon.
“Servant…
traitour” - Damyan is described by the merchant as this because he behaves less than appropriately for his rank - lusts after his knight’s wife.
“In he…
throng” - His love for May is now apparently lust, there is no gentle lovingness in this phrase. Fabliaux = instant gratification.
“Old fish and…
Young flessh.” - Januarie’s carnal desire to have a young wife despite his age.
“Warm wex…
with handes plye” - Januarie think he can mould his wife into his submission.
“Though I be olde and hoor…
I fare as dooth a tree” - He compares himself to a tree and refuses to acknowledge his old age.
“She may be your…
Purgatorie” - Justinus and his advice to Januarie over his new wife and what could be a torturous marriage.
“Ravisshed in a…
traunce” - When Januarie first laid eyes on May.
“Ravisshed on his…
lady May” - Damyan when he first laid eyes on May. Same lexical choice for lust of J and D.
“Stille as…
stoon” - May’s passivity to have sex with Januarie on thier wedding night. They had to consumate the marriage.
“As blynd as is a…
stoon” - Januarie’s blindness.
“I am a gentil woman…
and no wenche” - This is extremely ironic as she is about to fornicate with Damyan. She is also assuming a role and qualities that she has no claim to other than by the elevation of her marriage.
