The Canterbury Tales is considered the most important poem written in the Middle Ages. That is not only because of its historical significance and literary genius, but also because of its timeless depiction of human nature. His characters, which we will meet in the next post, are both medieval and modern at the same time, making them profoundly human even if apparently ridiculous. Through them, Chaucer reveals countless universal Truths that apply as much today as they did back then.
Story Framework
The premise of the book—and explanation of the title—revolves around a group of travelers on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. At the suggestion of an amiable, profit-seeking inn-keeper they meet along the way, each traveler agrees to compete in a story-telling contest. Whoever tells the best story will win a free meal on Harry on the return trip, which is a pretty good business strategy on his part!
A “Quiet Traveler” who is already at the inn oversees and takes interest in Harry’s proposition. Though not a pilgrim, he decides to join the group and record everyone’s stories. Hence, he becomes the narrator and thereby represents Chaucer’s alter-ego.
This type of structure is called a framed narrative, which is a story within a story. On one level, The Canterbury Tales is all about the Quiet Traveler observing, critiquing, and recording everything that happens. We might call this the outside story. On another more obvious level, The Canterbury Tales is all about what the pilgrims have to say in their stories. Collectively, we might call their tales the inside story.
Through this interplay of narrative perspectives, Chaucer weaves a colorful tapestry of social dynamics. “Clicks” form among the pilgrims; arguments ensue between them; and their stories serve as the battleground for their ideas.
The “Marriage Set” reflects the divergent views of the Wife of Bath, the Clerk, and the Franklin. We’ll look at them in detail in the next post. Suffice it to say for now that each of these pilgrims is very opinionated about what constitutes an ideal marriage, and Chaucer pokes fun at each of them in turn to show the weaknesses in their respective positions.
Motifs
Another way to conceptualize the story structure is to think about the framed narrative in terms of motifs or themes.
The motif of the outside story is pilgrimage. This common purpose is what “holds” the travelers together because it’s the reason for their interaction in the first place. After all, the Wife of Bath, a wealthy older woman, would normally have nothing to do with the Clerk, a poor scholar. She may, however, begrudgingly condescend to socialize with the Franklin, a wealthy, self-made country gentleman, out of “respect” for his money.
Nonetheless, their social stations are too disparate to come together under ordinary circumstances. In the context of a religious pilgrimage, with all its “sacredness” and “brotherly love” and “humility” (note the irony), these three pilgrims are obliged to put up with each other.
The motif of the inside story varies depending on which pilgrim is being represented, but for our focus it’s marriage. Each of the aforementioned pilgrims tells stories that revolve around the question of who should “rule” in a marriage: the husband or the wife. Their stories are so full of absurdities they hardly resemble real life. To use the modern vernacular, the marriages they showcase are completely “dysfunctional.”
Chaucer contrives them not only to entertain with silliness, but also to warn against common pitfalls and push readers toward a true understanding of what marriage is all about. We’ll get to Chaucer’s views in the final post. As the “framer” of everything, it’s his view that will prevail in the end.
