Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, written in the late 14th century, is one of the most important works in English literature. The General Prologue acts as the introduction to the entire collection and offers a vivid picture of English society during the Middle Ages. Chaucer does this by introducing a group of pilgrims who come from different social classes and occupations, all on their way to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. Through these characters, Chaucer gives us a detailed look at the social structure of the time—how people lived, worked, and interacted based on their position in society.
The social structure in the Prologue reflects the traditional three-estate system that dominated medieval Europe: the clergy (those who pray), the nobility (those who fight), and the commoners (those who work). However, Chaucer does more than simply list these categories—he adds complexity by showing how people within each group behave, and sometimes how they fail to live up to the ideals of their class.
1. The Clergy – Those Who Pray
The clergy was supposed to be the most spiritual and morally upright part of society. In the Prologue, Chaucer introduces several religious characters, but he presents them in different ways, showing both genuine devotion and clear corruption within the Church.
- The Parson is the ideal example of a good clergyman. He is poor, but rich in holy thought and work. He practices what he preaches, is kind to his parishioners, and leads by example. Chaucer clearly respects the Parson and holds him up as a model of true Christian virtue.
- In contrast, The Monk is a figure of religious hypocrisy. Instead of living a life of poverty, prayer, and manual labor, he enjoys hunting, fine food, and expensive clothing. He disregards the traditional rules of monastic life and follows his own pleasures, showing how the religious life was sometimes corrupted by worldly desires.
- The Friar, named Hubert, is another example of religious corruption. He is more interested in making money than helping the poor or hearing confessions sincerely. He uses his position to exploit others, especially women, and is skilled in manipulating people for personal gain.
- The Prioress, while not corrupt like the Friar or Monk, is portrayed as overly concerned with manners, appearances, and social status. Her refined behavior and elegant lifestyle suggest that she may be more focused on courtly ideals than spiritual ones.
Through these figures, Chaucer criticizes the Church by showing that many of its members are more interested in wealth, status, or pleasure than in serving God and the community. However, by including the Parson, Chaucer also shows that true holiness still exists.
2. The Nobility – Those Who Fight
The noble class was responsible for protecting the land and upholding justice. In Chaucer’s time, knights were at the top of this class, expected to live by a code of chivalry that emphasized honor, bravery, and service.
- The Knight in the Prologue is described as the perfect example of chivalry. He is brave, wise, modest, and has fought in many battles for Christian causes. Chaucer respects the Knight and praises his character. He does not show off or boast about his deeds and dresses simply, showing his humility.
- The Squire, the Knight’s son, is young, handsome, and full of energy. He is training to become a knight, but unlike his father, he is more focused on love and appearance. He writes poems, sings, and wears flashy clothes. Through the Squire, Chaucer shows how younger nobles are more influenced by courtly love than by chivalric duty.
These two characters represent the changing nature of the noble class—while the Knight holds on to old ideals of service and honor, the Squire represents a more romantic and fashionable generation.
3. The Commoners – Those Who Work
The largest group of people in the Prologue comes from the working or middle classes. Chaucer introduces a wide range of characters, from wealthy professionals to poor laborers, each with their own personality and role in society.
- The Merchant is part of the growing middle class. He appears confident and wealthy, dressed in fine clothes, but Chaucer hints that he is secretly in debt. This shows the fragile nature of status based on money alone.
- The Clerk (or Oxford Scholar) represents the world of education and learning. He is poor and spends all his money on books. He is quiet, respectful, and eager to learn and teach. Chaucer seems to admire his dedication to knowledge.
- The Sergeant of the Law is a successful lawyer. He appears to be very busy and wise, but Chaucer implies that he is more concerned with appearing important than actually doing meaningful work. This character represents the professional class that was gaining power in Chaucer’s time.
- The Franklin is a wealthy landowner who enjoys fine food and drink. He is generous and hospitable, showing the ideal of a country gentleman. However, his love of luxury might also hint at excess and self-indulgence.
- The Guildsmen—including the Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, and others—are members of the rising artisan class. They are proud of their work and status and wear clothes that show their wealth. Their ambition is clear, especially in how their wives want to be called “Madam” and treated like upper-class ladies.
- The Cook is introduced along with the Guildsmen. He is skilled at his job, but Chaucer notes that he has a sore on his leg, which adds a humorous but unpleasant detail, perhaps suggesting a lack of hygiene or attention to health.
- The Skipper (Shipman) is a rough and practical man. He is experienced in sea travel and has fought in battles. Chaucer describes him as someone who doesn’t hesitate to steal wine or show no mercy in battle, showing a darker side of the working class.
- The Doctor is very knowledgeable in medicine and astrology. However, Chaucer hints that he cares more about money than helping patients. He works closely with apothecaries to profit from his practice, showing how even respected professions can be motivated by greed.
- The Wife of Bath is one of the most colorful characters. She is a skilled cloth-maker, confident, and well-traveled. She has had five husbands and is not shy about discussing love and marriage. She represents the voice of an independent woman in a society that often limited women’s roles.
- The Miller is big, strong, and crude. He tells dirty jokes and is not afraid to cheat customers by stealing grain. He represents the more rough and dishonest side of the working class.
- The Plowman, the Parson’s brother, is another ideal character. He is honest, hardworking, and kind. He does his job well and lives a simple, virtuous life. Chaucer clearly respects him and places him as a moral example among the commoners.
Blurring of Social Lines
One of the most interesting things about the Prologue is how it shows the blurring of social boundaries. People from lower classes are sometimes more moral or respectable than those above them. The Parson and the Plowman are better examples of virtue than many of the clergy or nobles. The rising middle class is shown to have both ambition and flaws. Chaucer does not judge people only by their class, but by their character.
In this way, the Prologue offers not just a list of medieval social roles, but a realistic and critical portrait of society. Chaucer uses humor, irony, and detail to bring each character to life. He gives readers insight into the complexities of medieval life, where social class mattered, but personal values could still shine through.