The Canterbury Tales Essay, Research Paper

Knight -vs- Squire: The Comparison of Time Periods in The Canterbury Tales

One of the most of import pieces of English literature is Geoffrey Chaucer? s, The Canterbury Tales. This piece is extremely regarded, because it gives insight into the simpleness of life in England, through it? s extended dramatis personae of characters. One of the most of import parts of this piece is the General Prologue. The General Prologue is really of import to the piece, because Chaucer uses it to contrast characters with similar backgrounds or occupations. This contrast can be seen vividly in the descriptions of the Knight and the Squire. Both the Knight and the Squire are illustrations of warriors, but of different ages and societal standing ; because of this, Chaucer is able to picture the differences between the attitudes of the late Medieval society and blooming age of Renaissance. By utilizing similar characters and similar word pictures, Chaucer is able to light the huge differences between the Knight and the Squire.

Chaucer? s primary description of the Knight and his conflicts is that of stainless virtuousness. Chaucer says, ? & # 8230 ; he loved chivalrye, Trouthe and honor, freedom and curteisye? ( General Prologue, 45-46 ) . Chaucer describes the Knight as the perfect baronial knight. The Knight? s true love is of gallantry and award. He is depicted as a warrior who does his responsibility, because it is right. He believes in what he does, and isn? t a warrior for any other ground. Chaucer farther portrays this quality about the Knight through the conflicts which he has been involved in. The Knight was ne’er involved in a conflict of secular nature. The Knight merely fought in spiritual wars. Chaucer one time says, ? & # 8230 ; And foughten for our religion at Tramissene & # 8230 ; ? ( General Prologue, 62 ) . This line implies that the Knight fought for the spiritual religion of the land or King. When in conflict, the Knight? s purposes were ever baronial. The Knight ne’er had any concealed dockets, and ne’er fought for the chance of stuff or societal promotion.

The Squire, unlike the Knight, fought for grounds other than awards and responsibility. The Squire was foremost characterized as? A lover and a lustful bacheler. ? ( General Prologue, 80 ) . The Squire is depicted as the type of adult male who cares more for the adult females that he can affect than of the award he will protect and salvage. Chaucer farther classifies the Squire as a typical ladies adult male when he says, ? In hope to stonden in his [ lady? s ] grace. ? ( General Prologue, 88 ) . The Squire? s primary end when traveling into conflict is affecting the adult female whom he is after. Unlike his male parent, the Squire wasn? T interested in gallantry, award, or courtesy. The Squire goes into conflict for his ain personal addition. The Squire is the type of warrior who asks how much am I traveling to acquire paid for this conflict, and non, what are we contending these people for. Chaucer advances this word picture when he writes, ? & # 8230 ; he hadde been some clip in the [ King? s horse ] ? ( General Prologue, 85 ) . These cavalry expeditions, as is said in the footer, fought invariably against the Gallic. These conflicts were likely fought for no other ground than territorial differences.

Unlike the Knight, who was contending pagans, the Squire fought other Christians for material ownership. Though contending for territorial grounds is of import, when paired up with the illustration of the Knight, who fought for simply spiritual intents, the Squire? s grounds for contending seem slightly fiddling and honorless. This factor further adds to the word picture of both work forces, because in both instances the work forces? s ground for contending and their personalities lucifer. The Knight fought for award and in hono

rable lucifers, but was likely the type of adult male who would supply his enemy with a blade before a battle. The Squire, conversely, fought for addition and fought in conflicts that were purely for the addition of the province. Chaucer uses this coupling to picture the differences in the times. There is a sense that the ideals of Knighthood and besides the society are altering from being based upon award to being based upon mercenary addition.

The Knight? s word picture is non simply that of a baronial adult male, but besides that of a modest adult male. The Knight, although he is really accomplished in the art of conflict, ne’er bragged about his art, or used his abilities to minimize anyone or hike himself. Chaucer writes, ? And though he [ was wise every bit good as bold, ] and of his [ demeanour ] every bit meeke as is a maide. ? ( General Prologue, 78-9 ) . This word picture is preceded by the storyteller stating us about how autonomous the Knight? s repute is. When all of this is considered, the Knight is provided with an highly epic temperament. The Knight is depicted as the type of individual who will salvage your life and ne’er inquire for anything in return. He is the most admirable adult male conceivable, because although he has achieved everything, he doesn? t self-praise about it, nor does he see himself better than anyone else. Chaucer illustrates this quality, through the images of the Knight? s vesture. Chaucer describes the Knight? s visual aspect when he says, ? His [ Equus caballuss ] were goode, but he was non [ gaily dressed. ] Of fustian he [ wore ] a [ adventitia all rust stained from his coat of mail. ] ? ( General Prologue, 74-6 ) . The Knight? s vesture is neither brassy or expensive, and is really worn and rusty, from being used in conflict. This description provides the Knight with an attitude of elegance without extravagancy. The Knight doesn? T attention what others think of his vesture, because to him his vesture is simply for map and non manner. The Knight? s attitude and vesture truly reflects the remainder of his life, because he lived to function others and non simply for himself.

The Squire is more of a self-pleasing, narcissistic adult male, in that every action within his life is aimed to better his societal and economical standing. The Squire? s attitude is shown through the images of his organic structure and his frock. Chaucer tells us that, ? & # 8230 ; he was of [ moderate ] lengthe, and wonderly [ agile ] and of great strengthe? ( General Prologue, 83-4 ) . The Squire is described as of mean size, but is of apparently extraordinary abilities. These traits don? T seem to be declarative of an narcissistic adult male, but due to the fact that they follow Chaucer? s description of his hair, they receive that intension. The Squire is depicted as a vain adult male due to the description of his long curly hair, which he loved. The Squire cared vastly for his visual aspect, which unlike the Knight, carried over to his vesture and actions. Chaucer tells us, ? [ Embroidered ] was he as it were a [ hayfield ] Al full of fresshe flowers, white and ruddy ; Singing he was or floiting all twenty-four hours & # 8230 ; ? ( General Prologue, 89-91 ) . The Squire walks about as if he were the male monarch of the universe, apparently without a problem in his head. This gives him the visual aspect that he considers himself superior to everyone around him.

The Knight and the Squire, though they both have virtually the same profession, act, frock, think and carry themselves really otherwise. By partner offing these two characters together in his prologue, Chaucer is able to demo his readers the societal corruptness that the Squire has, while demoing more clearly the unity and award of the Knight. This besides helps to portray the huge alterations between the honest medieval times and the more mercenary Renaissance.