Chaucer’s, "The Miller's Tale", unfolds when a drunk Miller, Robin, interrupts the Host to tell his own tale about a carpenter. Opening after the Knight’s Tale, The Miller’s Prologue and Tale is told in Third Person (Limited Omniscient) and explores several themes such as, Love, Sex, and Deceit. This tale is comprised into two sections: a prologue, then proceeds to the tale. In the Prologue, the pilgrims have just heard and been entertained by, “The Knights Tale”, a love story. Afterwards, the Host asks that the Monk follow up with a tale of his own. The major characters include, John, (the carpenter), Alisoun, (John’s wife and Nicholas’ lover). Nicholas, (a poor young man who rents for John). Absolon, (a perish clerk and student who is in love with
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Well essentially, the story involves John, the husband of an adulterous woman, Alisoun. Absolon, the clergy and Nicolas, the young scholar whom Alisoun has an affair with. Alisoun, Nicolas, and Absolon are the result of an apparent love triangle while, John, the authority figure on the bench, attempting to keep Alisoun "narwe (narrow) in a cage.” Alisoun’s character also speaks to the characteristic of fabliaux which represent the writings about a woman’s nature. Moreover, the foolishness aspect of fabliau is themed in Miller’s Tale where John is at the center of ridicule and laughingstock. John, the carpenter is portrayed as a naïve, yet tenderhearted of all the characters. John’s insecurities regarding his younger wife are valid, but doesn’t interfere with his quest to remain a devoted husband. However, Chaucer’s description suggests that John is not sexually compatible to Alisoun and they were foolish to get married: “He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude, that bad man sholde wedde his similitude/Men sholde wedden after hire estaat/For youthe and elde is often at debaat/But sith that he was fallen in the snare/He moste endure, as other folk, his care.”
Well essentially, the story involves John, the husband of an adulterous woman, Alisoun. Absolon, the clergy and Nicolas, the young scholar whom Alisoun has an affair with. Alisoun, Nicolas, and Absolon are the result of an apparent love triangle while, John, the authority figure on the bench, attempting to keep Alisoun "narwe (narrow) in a cage.” Alisoun’s character also speaks to the characteristic of fabliaux which represent the writings about a woman’s nature. Moreover, the foolishness aspect of fabliau is themed in Miller’s Tale where John is at the center of ridicule and laughingstock. John, the carpenter is portrayed as a naïve, yet tenderhearted of all the characters. John’s insecurities regarding his younger wife are valid, but doesn’t interfere with his quest to remain a devoted husband. However, Chaucer’s description suggests that John is not sexually compatible to Alisoun and they were foolish to get married: “He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude, that bad man sholde wedde his similitude/Men sholde wedden after hire estaat/For youthe and elde is often at debaat/But sith that he was fallen in the snare/He moste endure, as other folk, his care.”