The merchant canterbury tales. Canterbury Tales 2022-10-31

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The "Merchant" in "The Canterbury Tales" is a character in the popular collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. The "Canterbury Tales" is a series of stories told by a group of travelers on a journey to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury, England. Each traveler tells a story in order to pass the time and entertain the others, and the Merchant is one of these travelers.

The Merchant is described as a "worldly man" who is well-traveled and knowledgeable about trade and commerce. He is described as being "wise" and "rich," and he is known for his eloquence and ability to speak persuasively. Despite his wealth and success, however, the Merchant is also depicted as being greedy and selfish, concerned more with making a profit than with helping others.

In his tale, the Merchant tells the story of a man named January who is married to a woman named May. January is a wealthy merchant, much like the character telling the tale, and May is a beautiful young woman. The couple is very much in love, and they are happy together until May's mother and brother conspire to trick January into believing that May has been unfaithful to him. January becomes angry and decides to divorce May, but eventually he realizes that he has been duped and decides to forgive her.

The story of January and May is meant to serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too trusting and the importance of forgiveness. The Merchant uses the tale to impart some of his own wisdom about the world, and to demonstrate his own eloquence and persuasive abilities.

Overall, the Merchant in "The Canterbury Tales" is a complex character, representing both the wealth and success of the merchant class, as well as the greed and selfishness that can sometimes come with it. He is a knowledgeable and eloquent speaker, but his focus on profit and material gain ultimately cloud his judgment and lead him to make poor decisions.

The Merchant (Canterbury Tales)

the merchant canterbury tales

This is to say, to do her full pleasure. Have taken their leave, and each of them of other. That has a wife? January is with her, but he cannot see Damian up in the pear tree. He knew not on which he might settle. Comparing her with lands, rents, pasture and personal possessions, he uses the language of commerce and objectifies women.

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The Canterbury Tales The Merchant’s Tale Summary

the merchant canterbury tales

With bothe myne eyen two, Thanked be God! He finds his wife tiresome and a 'rattling spitfire with her tongue. She feigned her as that she muste gon There as ye know that every wight must need; And when she of this bill had taken heed, She rent it all to cloutes at the last, And in the privy softely it cast. And after that he sang full loud and clear, And kiss'd his wife, and made wanton cheer. Another friend, Justinus, however, cautions January to be careful. He covers this up in his clothes and appearance so that it remains unknown to everyone that he is carrying a lot of debt. January is delighted, kisses her and hugs her, and strokes her on her stomach, leading her home to this house. For, brother mine, take of me this motive; I have now been a court-man all my life, And, God it wot, though I unworthy be, I have standen in full great degree Aboute lordes of full high estate; Yet had I ne'er with none of them debate ; I never them contraried truely.

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The Merchant's Tale in The Canterbury Tales: Theme & Analysis

the merchant canterbury tales

O sweet venom deceitful! He was the fifth man she married and the only one she really loved. O sweete poison quaint! She then gives him a wax impression of the key to January's garden. Calling his friends to him again, January asked them not to make any arguments against what he had resolved to do, and voiced his only concern - that a man who finds perfect happiness on earth, as he would with his wife,would never find a similar happiness in heaven, for one must choose between one perfect happiness and another. For sorrow of which he desires to die. This is my dread; and ye, my brethren tway, Assoile me this question, I you pray. Pluto restores January's sight; Prosperine gives May the wit to convince the old man that he should not believe what he has seen with his own eyes.

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What is the theme of the Merchant's tale?

the merchant canterbury tales

A wilde fire and corrupt pestilence So fall upon your bodies yet to-night! Today relationships between a much older person and a younger person is referred to a. Praise whoso will a wedded manne's life, Certes, I find in it but cost and care, And observances of all blisses bare. For she will claim half part all her life. Answer to this demand, as in this case, How shalt thou to thy lady, freshe May, Telle thy woe? He in the garden performed and accomplished them. January was also represented as white, that could revealhow he was old. January had also, in this time, become blind and became increasingly possessive of his wife, which caused Damian great grief — and May too wept very often, for January was always in her company.

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The Merchant Character Analysis in The Canterbury Tales

the merchant canterbury tales

And if that thou be sick, so God me save, Thy very friendes, or a true knave, Will keep thee bet than she, that waiteth aye After thy good, and hath done many a day. Against his choice; this was his fantasy. He is as wise, as discreet, and secre', As any man I know of his degree, And thereto manly and eke serviceble, And for to be a thrifty man right able. January loved this garden so much that only he possessed the key to it. Perhaps May — at the end of this tale — has actually got something someone! A wife to last unto his life's end.


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Geoffrey Chaucer

the merchant canterbury tales

One night, after she ripped some pages out of his book and punched him in the face, Jankyn hit her so hard that the blow caused permanent deafness in one ear. Are passed; then let her go to feast. It could have arrived in Europe through the One Thousand and One Nights, or perhaps the version in book VI of the Masnavi by Rumi. But, by my father's soul, I ween'd have seen How that this Damian had by thee lain, And that thy smock had lain upon his breast. O noble Ovid, sooth say'st thou, God wot, What sleight is it, if love be long and hot, That he'll not find it out in some mannere? Your heart hangs on a jolly pin is very merry! He weeped and he wailed piteously; And therewithal the fire of jealousy Lest that his wife should fall in some folly So burnt his hearte, that he woulde fain, That some man bothe him and her had slain; For neither after his death, nor in his life, Ne would he that she were no love nor wife, But ever live as widow in clothes black, Sole as the turtle that hath lost her make. And when that Pluto saw this greate wrong, To January he gave again his sight, And made him see as well as ever he might. January bent over so that May could stand on his back to climb the tree - she grabbed a branch, and climbed up into the tree with Damian, who pulled up her dress and began to have sex with her.


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The Canterbury Tales The Merchant’s Tale Summary and Analysis

the merchant canterbury tales

Lo, where he sits, the lecher, in the tree! Lesson Summary In The Canterbury Tales, the description of the merchant provides an external layer of success. Solitary as the turtledove that lost has her mate. Who on his bed's side sits full softly. Besides this, he also has 'boots with expensive clasps. The Wife of Bath describes a violent relationship with her favorite husband, Jankyn.

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The Merchant

the merchant canterbury tales

There can no tongue tell, nor heart think. Allas, allas," quod he, That could climb! After all, the elderly knight is either using her to amend his former wayward behavior or to produce an heir, or both. In conseil be it seyd, But know you what? She took him by the hand, and hard him twist So secretly, that no wight of it wist, And bade him be all whole; and forth she went To January, when he for her sent. That art the creature that I best love. Lo, pity runs soon in gentle heart! Cheating wives, as well as shrewish and nagging wives, are no doubt persons to be avoided if a man wants peace and happiness. Of Cancer, Jove's exaltation.

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4.2 The Merchant's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue

the merchant canterbury tales

And especially with a young wife and a fair. Why make you so much of Solomon? She expects that her heart would burst. If he be poor, she helpeth him to swink; She keeps his good, and wasteth never a deal; All that her husband list, her liketh well; She saith not ones Nay, when he saith Yea; "Do this," saith he; "All ready, Sir," saith she. As custom is unto these nobles all. God bless us, and his mother Saint Mary! What elements of the romance are incorporated? But I know best where wringeth me my shoe, Ye may for me right as you like do Advise you, ye be a man of age, How that ye enter into marriage; And namely with a young wife and a fair, By him that made water, fire, earth, air, The youngest man that is in all this rout Is busy enough to bringen it about To have his wife alone, truste me: Ye shall not please her fully yeares three, This is to say, to do her full pleasance. He kissed her, and clipped her full oft, And on her womb he stroked her full soft; And to his palace home he hath her lad. Still, disaster is staved off at least for the moment by the intervention of pagan gods.


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