The Generous Sinners: A Comparison Between Elton John and the Franklin
“Every age is a Canterbury pilgrimage; we all pass on, each sustaining one or other of these characters” (Blake), said William Blake, celebrated 18th century English poet. In reference to the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer’s most celebrated writing, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer develops a mental model about all of the characters in the literature and describes each character in detail. Three centuries later, Blake’s statement still stands true. Characters from The Canterbury Tales can be found in every society. One character described in great detail is the Franklin; he is a generous landowner who likes to eat more than anyone would ever need to. In today’s …show more content…
He graciously shares his food with people and always has an open invitation for anyone to eat at his home: “And in his hall a table stood arrayed and ready all day long, with places laid” (Chaucer 13). The Franklin has an open invitation to his home for anyone and everyone at any time of the day. A person’s house is a special and protected area. Having an open invitation for anyone leads to a decrease in a person’s privacy and safety. Opening the doors to one’s home is an honor to a guest, especially if the guest is someone who one does not know well. The Franklin’s generosity can be a relief to weary travelers and the poor who cannot even afford food. What makes this especially generous is that this is during the time of the great famine: a time where food is scarce and the spread of disease is rampant. The Franklin and Elton John may both be gluttonous, but they are both extremely generous and help those in need even if it means making monetary sacrifices or even sacrificing one’s own safety and privacy.
The Franklin and Elton John are both very gluttonous people, but also extremely generous during difficult times. Elton John, with his AIDS foundation and the Franklin, with his open door food policy, share their wealth with others in need. But, both of these people over-indulge and splurge on unnecessary items. If Geoffrey Chaucer was still alive, he would be stunned to see the uncanny resemblance Elton John has to the
“Every age is a Canterbury pilgrimage; we all pass on, each sustaining one or other of these characters” (Blake), said William Blake, celebrated 18th century English poet. In reference to the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer’s most celebrated writing, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer develops a mental model about all of the characters in the literature and describes each character in detail. Three centuries later, Blake’s statement still stands true. Characters from The Canterbury Tales can be found in every society. One character described in great detail is the Franklin; he is a generous landowner who likes to eat more than anyone would ever need to. In today’s …show more content…
He graciously shares his food with people and always has an open invitation for anyone to eat at his home: “And in his hall a table stood arrayed and ready all day long, with places laid” (Chaucer 13). The Franklin has an open invitation to his home for anyone and everyone at any time of the day. A person’s house is a special and protected area. Having an open invitation for anyone leads to a decrease in a person’s privacy and safety. Opening the doors to one’s home is an honor to a guest, especially if the guest is someone who one does not know well. The Franklin’s generosity can be a relief to weary travelers and the poor who cannot even afford food. What makes this especially generous is that this is during the time of the great famine: a time where food is scarce and the spread of disease is rampant. The Franklin and Elton John may both be gluttonous, but they are both extremely generous and help those in need even if it means making monetary sacrifices or even sacrificing one’s own safety and privacy.
The Franklin and Elton John are both very gluttonous people, but also extremely generous during difficult times. Elton John, with his AIDS foundation and the Franklin, with his open door food policy, share their wealth with others in need. But, both of these people over-indulge and splurge on unnecessary items. If Geoffrey Chaucer was still alive, he would be stunned to see the uncanny resemblance Elton John has to the