Canterbury Tales
In The Canterbury Tales, the narrator, Geoffrey Chaucer, warns of unmannerly conduct and begs for forgiving and non-judgmental readers in any instance of offense throughout the stories. Chaucer makes it clear that the stories told were not of his own views or words and were strictly re-written for the purpose of the book. The warning was necessary because the book itself contains many controversial events that may seem wretched to the reader. In the Miller’s tale, the narrator once again warns that the story may be offensive and if the reader does not wish to be offended, then they should not read it. The Miller was very drunk at the time he told his tale; therefore the assumption that the tale would be an explicit one was active. Not only does the tale contain lustful and planned adultery, but also a scene in which the man the wife was going to cheat with is waiting outside her window for a kiss. Little does he know, he ends up kissing her bare behind through the hole instead of her mouth.
And at the window out she put hir hole.
And Absolon, him fill no bet ne wers,
But with his mouth he kist hir naked ers—
lines 546-548
This part was very unmannerly because readers could be sickened by the fact he had kissed something so disgusting, especially considering people rarely bathed in this time period. A warning was definitely needed for this in case someone was to have a weak stomach that couldn’t handle the foulness. In the Pardoner’s Tale, he tells the readers that he does not like to deal with poor or unhealthy people, such as the lepers, when he pardons. Therefore, he is going against the morality of the church when he is unfair towards choosing whom he shall pardon. He tells his tales in order to shame people into giving him more money than necessary so he can live a wealthy life. Gaining money and shaming people through Christ’s name would view this as a sin and be very appalled at the reality. Many holy people would be offended by this and
And at the window out she put hir hole.
And Absolon, him fill no bet ne wers,
But with his mouth he kist hir naked ers—
lines 546-548
This part was very unmannerly because readers could be sickened by the fact he had kissed something so disgusting, especially considering people rarely bathed in this time period. A warning was definitely needed for this in case someone was to have a weak stomach that couldn’t handle the foulness. In the Pardoner’s Tale, he tells the readers that he does not like to deal with poor or unhealthy people, such as the lepers, when he pardons. Therefore, he is going against the morality of the church when he is unfair towards choosing whom he shall pardon. He tells his tales in order to shame people into giving him more money than necessary so he can live a wealthy life. Gaining money and shaming people through Christ’s name would view this as a sin and be very appalled at the reality. Many holy people would be offended by this and