Characters in the General Prologue to The Canterbury...

The Canterbury Tales are essentially a Chaucerian satire; the author sets out to deliberately upset the social order present at the time and proceeds to mock the faults innate in the characters. Chaucer gives a compressed view of characters such as the Knight and the Monk; in their descriptions, a preview of the kind of stories we can expect from these people is given. Take for example the Miller; his physical description alleviates him as a thick brute with a filthy mouth that was `moost of sin and harlotries, sufficed to say that his tale is one of adultery and sinful behaviour. However, Chaucer is not always as straightforward as this in presenting the pilgrims to us. His effective policy in unhinging the social hierarchy involves two†¦show more content†¦This Knight could always be depended on to be at the fore of battle in his service to his lord, in fact he does this so exceptionally well that he appears to have the talent for travelling with an impressive speed! He da red never to utter a word of rudeness and behaved meekly whilst in the company of those not engaged with him on the battlefield. In keeping true to the tradition of his profession, his dress was `nat gay, while his horse was considered good, however this is permitted, as it is essential to his success. `And thereto hadde he ridden, no man ferre, as wel in cristendom as in hethenesse once the audience reaches these lines, Chaucers sarcasm is in such a wholesome state that only a fool could fail to detect it. The course of the Knights expeditions may be believable in modern times, yet on horseback in the middle ages, youll forgive me if I scoff at its credibility. The agenda of the Knights conquests are put into questioning. `Throughout the Prologue, one set of values is being opposed to another with the most deliberate though subtle, craft: - generosity and charity are set against greed and self indulgence....honesty against thievery and double-dealing (Major, p.161). Claiming to be a crusader of Christendom, his general practice is exposed by Chaucer the poet. `This ilke worthy knight hadde been also somtyme with the lord of Palatye agayn another hethen in Turkye. 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