Pleasure and Pain
Both the Miller’s tale and the Reeve’s tale are quite comical at first glance, but when taking a closer look, one can easily take many life lessons from these two stories. Chaucer held no bars in these two tales. The Miller’s tale takes a more comedic and jolly approach, yet his tale still lays a plot thick with deceit, sin, and pleasure at someone else’s expense. Diving into the Reeve’s tale spins a spiteful tale to mock and prod the miller while holding a comedic tone all the while dancing on the themes of adultery and lying. Throughout the text we can find lessons learned at others’ expenses that do not come cheap.
Before the tale even begins, the host of this extravaganza tries to deter the miller from telling a story …show more content…
Each man’s sin runs deep through this tale. John, stricken with jealousy, tries to tame his wife by clinging to her tightly. Nicholas lies to John in order to have sexual relations with John’s wife, Alisoun. Absolon, the monk, objectifies Alisoun as nothing more than a sexual goal that he must achieve. Each character receives penance for their sin, though not all equally. Attempting to steal a kiss from Alisoun, Absolon, winds up kissing Alisoun’s butt and being farted on. Absolon does not revere his own spiritual vows to God, and he uses his position in the church perversely. Keeping true to your beliefs is always better than catching a fart in the face. Nicholas commits adultery, one of the most atrocious sins of that time. Capitalizing on his respect and friendship of John, he deceives and tricks him into thinking a second flood is coming. While John says prayers of safety for his friend and wife, they are having sex in his bed. Nicholas has no respect for his friend or for the bonds of marriage. Nicholas gets his punishment by being branded on the butt by an angry Absolon. Believing you get away with something is never true; even if you do not get caught in the act there is always consequences. Finally, the biggest lesson of them all is people do not get what they deserve. John, a good man, although rather dull, respects and trusts Nicholas and loves his wife dearly, yet he ends up being the fool with a broken arm and the laughing stock of the
Both the Miller’s tale and the Reeve’s tale are quite comical at first glance, but when taking a closer look, one can easily take many life lessons from these two stories. Chaucer held no bars in these two tales. The Miller’s tale takes a more comedic and jolly approach, yet his tale still lays a plot thick with deceit, sin, and pleasure at someone else’s expense. Diving into the Reeve’s tale spins a spiteful tale to mock and prod the miller while holding a comedic tone all the while dancing on the themes of adultery and lying. Throughout the text we can find lessons learned at others’ expenses that do not come cheap.
Before the tale even begins, the host of this extravaganza tries to deter the miller from telling a story …show more content…
Each man’s sin runs deep through this tale. John, stricken with jealousy, tries to tame his wife by clinging to her tightly. Nicholas lies to John in order to have sexual relations with John’s wife, Alisoun. Absolon, the monk, objectifies Alisoun as nothing more than a sexual goal that he must achieve. Each character receives penance for their sin, though not all equally. Attempting to steal a kiss from Alisoun, Absolon, winds up kissing Alisoun’s butt and being farted on. Absolon does not revere his own spiritual vows to God, and he uses his position in the church perversely. Keeping true to your beliefs is always better than catching a fart in the face. Nicholas commits adultery, one of the most atrocious sins of that time. Capitalizing on his respect and friendship of John, he deceives and tricks him into thinking a second flood is coming. While John says prayers of safety for his friend and wife, they are having sex in his bed. Nicholas has no respect for his friend or for the bonds of marriage. Nicholas gets his punishment by being branded on the butt by an angry Absolon. Believing you get away with something is never true; even if you do not get caught in the act there is always consequences. Finally, the biggest lesson of them all is people do not get what they deserve. John, a good man, although rather dull, respects and trusts Nicholas and loves his wife dearly, yet he ends up being the fool with a broken arm and the laughing stock of the