The Canterbury Tales Alle Character Analysis

Throughout The Canterbury Tales, there is a distinct distance between personal identity and the general statement “alle”. “Alle” means totally, or all together (University of Michigan); it implies a universal agreement without hesitation. The term is used frequently within the collection and functions as yet another aspect that distances individuals from companies and different ranks. In “The Miller’s Prologue”, the narrator reflects on the Miller’s words and character: “And therfore every gentil wight I preye, for Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye of evel entente, but that I moot reherce hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, or elles falsen som of my matere.” (Chaucer, 73). The narrator’s usage of alle, contrasting with his usage of I, makes a clear separation between himself and the other storytellers, …show more content…
The separation reflects his authority and rank compared to others. This distance created from “alle” and “I”, which is illustrated and utilized throughout various tales, emphasizes the distance that existed within society on a large scale among different ranks and genders. The fragmented society Chaucer paints confirms the notion of societal inequality; different groups and individuals were seen as higher-up and wielded more power. Although the tales function as a way for those on the pilgrimage to prove their legitimacy in society, their identity-based separation shows the larger societal tensions, distance, and struggles that existed. The class tensions are shown consistently throughout the collection—this speaks on the fact that at this point in time, class defined identity and place in society. One’s societal place was solidified from birth; it was not a mobile,