#Chaucer’s art of characterization in The

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Chaucer’s art of characterization in The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
               
Chaucer is the consummate painter of characters in English literature. Chaucer hires the
narrative method mostly. Chaucer had a balanced view about a man-women relationship.
Chaucer tells stories in a most effective way. His characters represent the English society
morally and socially. He described the characters according to the nature, style, manner of
life, interest, purpose and habit. The different pilgrims represent different professions.
Chaucer’s strange and original art of characterization has enabled him to delineate
memorable portraits.
Chaucer does not follow only one method of characterization. The characters of The
Prologue to the Canterbury Tales are chosen from all ranks of English society. They are
delineated by a combination of typical traits, and vivid individual details. Chaucer is fully alive
to the thoughts and feelings. The prologue gives us plenty of information on the food,
hobbies, and mode of dress of the times.

ı Chaucer’s colorful characters:

Chaucer depicts his characters by their appearances, dresses, and colors. We are enchanted
by the embellished gown of The squire. His clothes were embroidered all over like a eld of
red and white owers.  The prioress rosary made of green beads. About her arm, she wore a
coral rosary with green gawdies.  The Summoner had a black scabby brow.  The pardoner
had hair as yellow as wax.

ı Characterization by the theory of humor:

A major technique adopted by the medieval authors was the theory of humor. He describes
The Franklin as a sanguine . He uses medical approach to the character which divided
personalities according to the prevalence of one of the elements, re, earth, and water.

ı Characterization by profession of characters:

Chaucer portrays his character by their also. We see the picture of the war in the character of
The Knight. He had taken part in fteen deadly battles. Thrice he had fought combats for the
Christians at Tramyssene.
At mortal batailles hadde he been fteen
    And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene .
The franklin epitomizes the profession of culture. The monastic order is represented by
Monk.

İ Characterization by Irony and Satire:

Chaucer makes the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales a great human document, containing a
clear and comprehensive picture of the age. His treatment for corrupt people is humorous,
satirical or ironical. For example, Chaucer calls a wife of bath worthy women . He measures
 up word worthy by commenting
                                                She was worthy women all her lyve
                                                  Husbands at church door she had ve
The corruption in the church was the main problem. He described the character of the
Summoner and The Pardoner.

İ Characterization by physiognomy;

It was a trend in the medieval poets that they were used to reveals their character through
physiognomy, to expose their inner spiritual health. Chaucer has beautifully employed this
technique in the case of The Summoner. Fire red cherubim face , Pimples , Narrow eyes ,
Black scabby brows re ect his inner spiritual corruption.

İ Use of contrast:

We can see the virtuous character of The Parson. We have the monster of vice in the
character of The Summoner. The Oxford Clerk is the opposite of merry making Monk The
Wife of the Bath is brilliantly contrasted with the delicate prioress.

İ Characterization by individual and Typed Method

Chaucer’s most excellent technique is his presentation of characters as individual and types
method. We can see the character of The Friar is a typical representative of his class in the
14th century. He is the corrupt and greedy man. His cloak is always full with knives and pins
to be given away to pretty women. The old Knight shows a picture of war. He can be seen on
the battle eld. The Prioress is a type of women who is an epicure but she is portrayed as an
individual. She dipped only the tips of her nger in the Sauce. She knew how to carry a piece
of food to her mouth so that not a drop fell upon her breast.  The Monk is a type of person
who is not interested in religion and holy books. He loves hunting, for which he spares no
cost, was to ride and hunt the hare. His favorite dish is a fat roasted swan. He has many
horses in his stables.

İ Characterization by vices of Characters:

Chaucer’s depicts his characters in a very dazzling way. He portrays the character through
their vices of characters too.  In The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer reveals the
corruption of the church in a clear style. We can see the character like The Friar, The Monk,
and The Pardoner. ALL these characters are greedy for money and the gold. All these
characters are corrupt. We also see the element of dishonesty in his characters.

İ Indirect characterization:

In The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer also uses the technique of indirect
characterization. He utilizes this technique. Chaucer reveals different characters by their
physical appearances.  It can be differentiated by the teller and showing the characters. In
the character of The Summoner, it is a good example of this method. The Summoner’s facial
appearance shows the negative impression.  We can see the action and dialogue in the
Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.

İ Chaucer’s characters are real and universe:

Chaucer’s characters are real and universe. They swear and shout, weep and laugh, interrupt
the story teller, pass compliment, and in general behave themselves, as we might expect to
be. The character of the Canterbury Tales has universal trends. Which are to be met in all
ages and all nations.

ŀ Conclusion;

Chaucer’s art of characterization is free from personal bias. He portrays his characters
objectively, impartially and disinterestedly. His world of man is varied and wide. Chaucer’s art
of characterization is an akin novelist and a dramatist. Chaucer’s characters are not only
suitable for age and society in which he lived, but it is also suitable for every society and
time. In a nutshell, his characters are mostly universal. His prologue to the Canterbury Tales
is indeed is a beautiful and superb gallery of his art of characterization.