Assessment of another living thing occurs within the first few moments of interaction, giving one just enough time to look at the physical being before them; not nearly enough time to assess its nature. Geoffrey Chaucer encourages readers of The Canterbury Tales to communicate with a person before passing judgement, as looks can shield deception. Two characters address the connection between persona and personality. Appearance portrays the Miller as vulgar and bawdy, and one could describe his tale in the same manner, not pretending to be something different, whereas the Pardoner seems well breed and sophisticated, as suggested by his tale, however his character opposes his physical being.
The Miller uses his constant state of intoxication …show more content…
Chaucer describes the Miller as, “short-shouldered and broad - a thick-set knave. / There was no door he could not heave from its hinges/ or break at a run with his head,” (Chaucer 27). His willingness to break a door with his head, indicates that perhaps he does not have the same strength of the mind as the Pardoner. The Miller’s physical strength makes up for his lack of eloquent speech, evident in his tale. Although, he cannot communicate his words in a potent way like the Pardoner, his genuine speech and character puts him above the Pardoner in terms of morality. Versus the Pardoner’s use of bankrupt language to get what he wants. The Pardoner opposes the Miller, in that he speaks with a silver tongue, making his words string together in a pious melody, “I spit out my venom under the color / of holiness, to seem holy and true,” (Chaucer 343). The Pardoner never doubts himself, so much so that he feels comfortable making those in his company aware of the “venom” within his words, never doubting that by the end of his tale (their money will sit in his pocket) they will want to give him their money. However, he does not believe anything that comes out of his mouth, relying on a well thought through performance to conceal his agenda and make him “seem holy and true”. The Pardoner puts effort into everything he does, hardly revealing his true identity, whereas the Miller hides nothing in his speech nor
The Miller uses his constant state of intoxication …show more content…
Chaucer describes the Miller as, “short-shouldered and broad - a thick-set knave. / There was no door he could not heave from its hinges/ or break at a run with his head,” (Chaucer 27). His willingness to break a door with his head, indicates that perhaps he does not have the same strength of the mind as the Pardoner. The Miller’s physical strength makes up for his lack of eloquent speech, evident in his tale. Although, he cannot communicate his words in a potent way like the Pardoner, his genuine speech and character puts him above the Pardoner in terms of morality. Versus the Pardoner’s use of bankrupt language to get what he wants. The Pardoner opposes the Miller, in that he speaks with a silver tongue, making his words string together in a pious melody, “I spit out my venom under the color / of holiness, to seem holy and true,” (Chaucer 343). The Pardoner never doubts himself, so much so that he feels comfortable making those in his company aware of the “venom” within his words, never doubting that by the end of his tale (their money will sit in his pocket) they will want to give him their money. However, he does not believe anything that comes out of his mouth, relying on a well thought through performance to conceal his agenda and make him “seem holy and true”. The Pardoner puts effort into everything he does, hardly revealing his true identity, whereas the Miller hides nothing in his speech nor