Essay on Chaucers The Canterbury Tales - 927 Words

Chaucers The Canterbury Tales In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and describes a lack of morality in medieval society; yet in the â€Å"Retraction,† Chaucer recants much of his work and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the â€Å"Retraction† and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does not weaken Chaucer’s social commentary. Rather, the â€Å"Retraction† emphasizes Chaucer’s criticism of the Church and society in The Canterbury Tales by reinforcing the risk inherent in doing so. In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer portrays the Roman Catholic Church as an institution in†¦show more content†¦Chaucer clearly indicates that many leaders of the Church act only for their own good, rather than for spiritual reasons. In his description of other pilgrims, Chaucer points out how the lack of morality within the Church is echoed by the rest of society. Several pilgrims have non-religious reasons for going on the pilgrimage. The Wife of Bath, for instance, is looking for her sixth husband, hoping that â€Å"Som Cristen man shal wed me [her] anoon† (WBT 54). Many of the characters have little or no regard for others, but instead are focused only on their own desires. The Franklin is so gluttonous that â€Å"It snewed [snows] in his hous of mete and drinke, / Of alle daintees that men coude thinke† (GP 347-8). Chaucer even suggests that the Sergeant at Law, a prominent figure in society, â€Å"seemed bisier than he was† (GP 324). The corruption of the Church has, according to Chaucer, affected the way individuals act. If the Church is immoral it is not surprising that much of society mirrors the Church’s immoral actions. The Parson cleverly describes the effect of a lack of m orality in the leaders of society by comparing the corruption of individuals to the rusting of metals: â€Å"if gold ruste, what shal iren do? / For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, / No wonder is a lewed man to ruste† (GP 502-4). Chaucer attacks not only the behaviour of the Church officials but also the immorality of the laypeople in Medieval society. Contrary to the critical tone used in The CanterburyShow MoreRelatedChaucers The Canterbury Tales1381 Words   |  6 PagesThe Canterbury Tales serves as a moral manual in the Middle Ages. In the tales, Geoffrey Chaucer portrays the problems of the society. For instance, Chaucer uses the monk and the friar in comparison to the parson to show what the ecclesiastical class are doing versus what they are supposed to be doing. In other words, it is to make people be aware of these problems. It can be inferred that the author’s main goal is for this literary work to serve as a message to the people along with changing theRead More Chaucers Canterbury Tales2103 Words   |  9 Pagesbe forever immortalized as Geoffrey Chaucer the writer, and the Satirist. The true goal of any Satire is to point out the flaws in certain aspect of society, while also inspiring reform to that very same aspect in one way or another. In Chaucer’s Canterbury tales, Chaucer satirizes the corruption Catholic Church and those associated. Chaucer saw that hypocrisy polluted the pureness of the church and expressed his disillusionment through the use of satire. Fearless of discommunication Geoffrey ChaucerRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales1030 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a collection of several tales that are all told by different characters and all convey different messages. The story presented in the general prologue is that a group of pilgrims is traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket, and during their journey they take turns telling tales and talking about themselves. Chaucer uses the pilgrims to express his beliefs, about religion, marriage, social class, and many other topics. One of the pilgrims is the MancipleRead MoreMarriage In Chaucers The Canterbury Tales1709 Words   |  7 PagesIn Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a group of traveling pilgrims on their way from London to Canterbury pass the time by telling each other stories and tales. A handful of the tales are on the topic of marriage, most notably The Miller’s Tale, The Wife of Bath’s Tale and The Merchant’s Tale. The Miller talks about his wife and marriage poorly in his prologue and his tale is just as cynical. The Wife of Bath reveals in her prologue that she has had five husbands, something that was frownedRead MoreChaucers Canterbury Tales741 Words   |  3 Pagesreference to one of The Canterbury Tales discuss, what means Chaucer uses to create the highly individualized (and often comic) characters and how successful is his creation. The Friar from The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer was a master at creating highly individualized characters who are often comic and realistic at the same time and always have good traits as well as bad ones. The aim of this essay is to demonstrate this ability on the example of the Friar from The Canterbury Tales who is one of theRead MoreEssay on The Pardoners Tale of Chaucers The Canterbury Tales1482 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pardoners Tale of Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales is a structured novel which starts with the narrator obtaining twenty traveling companions at an inn. They are all traveling to Canterbury to pay homage to a saint. On their way, these colorful individuals decide to make the trip more bearable by having a story telling contest. Each will tell one story on the way to Canterbury, and one story on the way back. The winner will be decided by the innsRead MoreChaucers Society in Canterbury Tales815 Words   |  4 Pages Chaucers society represents every social class. In doing so, it shows what it takes to actually make a society function. The different people carry different stories to share. These stories carry lessons learned in hopes of sharing them with others so that they may not end up in the same predicaments. After all, that is the main point of sharing stories, isnt it? In the Nun and Priests tale, a story of never trusting a flatterer is told. The Pardoner tries to sell indulgences to the pilgrimsRead MoreChaucers Canterbury Tales922 Words   |  4 Pages These characters are vividly described and distinguished into three different classes: the military, nobles and knights, the church, priests, nuns, and monks, and the common people. Chaucer’s detailed descriptions built these complex characters who now carried his opinions of the different classes. Trough Chaucer’s contradicting description of the Prioresse, the reader questions the sincerity of church figures during this time, ultimately suggesting that the church was not genuine and full-fillingRead More Chaucers The Canterbury Tales: The Parson’s Tale Essay2219 Words   |  9 PagesChaucers The Canterbury Tales: The Parson’s Tale The critical acclaim for The Canterbury Tales as a whole is matched by the puzzlement over the work’s conclusion, the â€Å"Parson’s Tale† and Chaucer’s retraction. By modern standards, it hardly seems the â€Å"merry tale† the Parson promises his audience, and after the liveliness of much of the rest of the Tales, it appears to close the work not with a bang, but a whimper. However, this does not mean that the tale and retraction aren’t worthyRead MoreWomen In Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales1288 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† is a collection of stories written between 1387 and 1400 about a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England) and on their way, they tell stories to each other about their lives and experiences. The stories constitute a critique of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church, while women seem to be presented in a different way than they are in other contemporary works. The aim of this essay is to present

American Foreign Relations before 1913 Free Essays

The American Foreign Relations also referred to as the foreign policy of the United States of America is the adopted policies that the country uses in its interaction with other countries. As of now, the United States is the most influential country in the world on the basis that it is the only remaining superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union which led to the end of the Cold War. As of now, the economy of the United States is the world largest and this helps the country in its global outreach. We will write a custom essay sample on American Foreign Relations before 1913 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The country nowadays has set is foreign policies agendas and objectives as the creation of a world which is more secure, democratic and economically powerful of the benefit of the American citizens as well as the international community (Gardner, 1984). During the Bush administration, the American country has been faced by many international threats and enemies. This is because the administration is thought to have overstepped its foreign relations especially in the country’s quest to bring about world peace and democracy to all nations around the world. However, it is important to relate to the historical overview of the United States of America from the time it gained independence to the beginning of the First World War (John, 1935). From 1776 to 1898 The United States gained its independence from Britain in the year 1776 and this was brought about by the American Revolution. It is important to note that from that time, America began its relations with some of the superpowers of Europe at that time, key among them being France. However, from the time of American Revolution to the time of Spanish-American War, the United States foreign relations focused mainly in the regional relations rather the international relations (Engerman, 2000). During the American Revolution, the United States of America developed ties with major European powers at that time. This was necessary because it main rival and colonizer, Britain was a very powerful force at that time. The United States could not have defeated Britain without the help of some powerful countries. This was the reason that necessitated America to establish ties with Spain, Netherlands and France and it is important to note that the country needed the countries for their intervention in its war with Britain[1]. Britain at that time was a mutual enemy of the three European countries and the United States as well. The intervention of these three countries saw to it that America attained its independence and also assumed the status of a sovereign state (Gardner, 1984). After its war with Britain, the United States also continued to cultivate its ties with Britain and this was enhanced by the signing of the Olive Branch Policy. The United States made various efforts to restore peace and also resume its important trade with Britain. French having contributed so much in the American Revolution was also not left out of the picture. To this end, the United States continued its relations with the French Republic and an important evidence to this is the French presentation of the Statue of Liberty to the United States in the year 1886 (Foner, 1970). [1]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gilbert, Felix. To the Farewell Address: Ideas of Early American Foreign Policy. Princeton, N.J., (1961): 236 – 267 How to cite American Foreign Relations before 1913, Papers

Managing Time Essay Example For Students

Managing Time Essay The ability to manage time may be the most valuable asset students can have. Without it, one can get so bogged down with sports, homework, and life that one accomplishes little. As a freshman one needs to get involved in the school and community through sports, clubs and volunteer work. This will make a well- rounded individual not only in high school or college, but also in life. Allocate time for sports, homework, friends, and community service carefully. It is important to realize that many things have to be accomplished simultaneously to make a person stand out. Here are some things that I have found to help me:#61656; Setting Objectives#61656; Setting Priorities#61656; Stretching your time and using it effectively#61656; Setting alarm a couple of minutes ahead#61656; Plan the night before#61656; Know what your going to do the next day and execute objectives #61656; Write things down on notepad #61656; Keep ones standards high;#61656; Establish deadlinesI use these skills everyda y and I feel that I am a well-rounded student. I am actively involved in sports. I play football in the winter, wrestling in the fall, and baseball in the spring. Also, I am enrolled in many AP classes that are ambiguous and have countless hours of homework and require TIME! Furthermore, Im involved in my community from working at bible schools to doing cancer runs. Not to mention the time I have to put in with family and friends. Motivation is an important aspect of time management. If one doesnt truly want to use their time better, one will find he/she trapped forever in old nonproductive patterns. Each individual must decide what personal payoffs he or she can expect to receive from school to achieve a higher education.