The Canterbury Tales Essay

In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer presents a reflection of the real world in “The Prioress’s Tale” to emphasize and satirize the divisions and flaws of Medieval English society. Chaucer primarily highlights the anti-Semitic qualities of Christian society through the Prioress’s reaction to this well-defined schism. In particular, the Prioress exemplifies the sharp division between the Jewish community and the overbearing Christian population as she states, “First of our foes, the Serpent Satan shook / Those Jewish hearts that are his waspish nest” (Chaucer 172). The Prioress undoubtedly illustrates this predominant divide as she associates the Jewish community with Satan. Thus, through this biased labeling, Chaucer employs a reflection …show more content…
In the process of exposing the flaws of Medieval English society, Chaucer concurrently satirizes the Prioress and her bigotry. The Prioress’s self-seeking personality contradicts her moral guidelines as a member of the First Estate. Among her most striking features is a “[…] golden brooch of brightest sheen / On which there first was graven a crowned A, / And lower, Amor vincit omnia” (Chaucer 7). With the occupation of a nun, the Prioress is expected to uphold and preserve her marriage to Christ. Instead, with the inscription of ‘Love conquers all’ on the Prioress’s brooch, Chaucer satirizes the fact that the Prioress is not loyal to the principles to which nuns abide, especially her faithfulness to Christ. Furthermore, the author employs this sardonic reflection of society to reveal the prevalence of disloyalty and infidelity in the real world. Chaucer also highlights the satirical nature of the Prioress when the nun states, “O Hugh of Lincoln, likewise murdered so / By cursed Jews, as is notorious / (For it was but a little time ago) / Pray mercy on our faltering steps […]” (Chaucer