UNIVERSIDAD DE COSTA RICA Escuela de Lenguas Modernas Recinto de Paraso

Literatura Britnica

A Criticism to Christianity

Profesor Juan Carlos Vargas

Estudiante Katherine Corrales Gamboa

I semestre, 2010

A criticism to Christianity

People consider Chaucer one of the greatest writers of the Middle Ages. Readers and critics admire the life of Chaucer and his works. The House of Fame and the Canterbury Tales form part of his works. The original plan for these tales consisted on writing 120 stories, two for each pilgrim to tell on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. However, Chaucer finished just 22 stories, and two more exist in fragments. Irony and criticism characterizes these tales. The author amazes readers with his fine sarcasm and way of mocking. In fact, the Prologue of the Canterbury Tales embraces these characteristics of the style of Chaucer. First, the author judges the religious intentions to go on a pilgrimage of the characters of the Canterbury Tales. The purpose of a pilgrimage consists on looking for forgiveness, and some of the pilgrims just pretend they are seeking absolution. Second, the ironic description of the characters helps to stand for the criticism towards Christianity. Chaucer presents the basic human paradox which places what people [really] are in opposition to what they are or pretend to be. Chaucer criticizes Christianity sarcastically in the Prologue of the Canterbury Tales. The first way in which Chaucer criticizes Christianity consists on questioning the real intentions of the characters to go on a pilgrimage. First, the pilgrimage to Canterbury takes place in spring. Some people associate this season with Venus (the goddess of love), and others relate spring with a time of reborn. The real

purpose of going on a pilgrimage consists on looking for spiritual renewal; but most of the characters of the prologue go on the pilgrimage to Canterbury with other ideas. The squire wants to show off himself. He wears gaily clothes to call the attention of women. This young knight knows how to flatter women. He knows how to dance, write, joust, and draw. In fact, this squire knows women of the Middle Ages love those abilities in a man. He goes on the pilgrimage to win the admiration of women, but he does not look for forgiveness. Therefore, Chaucer criticizes the Christian beliefs of this squire. Also, the author questions the values of the friar. The friar pardons people by asking for good pittance. Therefore, the friar manages great amounts of money for his own wealth. Chaucer does not explain the intentions of the friar to go on the pilgrimage; though a friar of his kind does not represent a good Christian at all. The intentions of these two characters have nothing to do with the real purpose of a pilgrimage. On one hand, the descriptions of the characters represent another important aspect of the criticism of Chaucer to Christianity. The irony used by some poets might distract or confuse readers. However, Chaucer uses irony with great clarity. Readers can notice the irony on the descriptions of the religious characters. Critics argue about the characteristics of a good Christian. However, people know a good Christian does not prefer feeding his or her pets instead of feeding a human being. People know a nun doesnt care about looking pretty to the others. Chaucer knows these people are just pretending to be good Christians, and he uses irony at presenting these characteristics of the nun. Moreover, the author highlights the manners of the nun in a burlesque way. Chaucer depicts her ways as the finest

and the most delicate ones. The author concentrates the attention on these superficial aspects of the nun. He might want to make readers understand the nun is a superficial Christian. Besides, people know a monk must respect every living thing, and the author points out the monk loves hunting. People become part of a religious creed to practice its beliefs and follow its mandates. Therefore, Chaucer considers the nun and the monk fake Christians. Indeed, the nun and the monk seem to go on the pilgrimage to let others know they are present. On the other hand, a writer must possess great skills to criticize controversial issues. Chaucer masters these abilities ingeniously in the Canterbury Tales. Mastering such abilities requires innate talent and knowledge, and readers admire characteristics like that on a writer. Consequently, one can distinguish the work of Chaucer among the work of others. The Canterbury Tales stays on the minds of the readers when they read it. These tales represent a strong criticism towards Christianity. Chaucer eases the criticism towards Christianity by using sarcasm and irony. However, he clarifies his opinion about people who call themselves Christians. Indeed, the ironic tone and the satire on the descriptions of the characters stand for the criticism of Chaucer towards Christianity.