In Geoffrey Chaucer’s, The Canterbury Tales, marriage is a common reoccurring theme. More specifically, in The Merchant’s Tale, the Merchant expresses his displeasure and the deceits in marriage through his tale involving January, the husband who got deceived, May, his deceiving wife, and Damian, a squire in January’s household who longs for May and participates in the betrayal of January. The three all take part in deceiving or being deceived in a twisted marriage and situations being taken advantage of. In the beginning of the Merchant’s tale, the Merchant being someone who strongly opposes women and marriage, a main character, January, ironically, has a strong desire to be a married man. January was always a ladies man, but exaggerates
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He falls in love at first sight of May at January and May’s own wedding, “everyone was full of joy and contentment- all but…Damian, who had carved before the knight for many a day: he was so ravished with his lady May that for the very pain he was nearly mad; he almost languished and fainted where he stood…” (Chaucer 527-531). Damian is jealous May is with January, he want her for himself. Damian goes off to his room and stays “ill” for a long while until the caring January asks that May go comfort Damian and make sure that Damian, his great squire, is okay. When May goes into Damian’s room, he discreetly slips her a note and knows he is wrong by it because he tells May, “Your Mercy! Do not reveal me, for I am dead if this thing is made known” (Chaucer 698-699). That is the only thing he says to May, he does not discuss the note, but acknowledges his wrongdoing and the betrayal of January by telling May in the note the love he has for her. January is very thoughtful and courteous to Damian, Damian is so wrong for deceiving January like he is. After May finds an opportunity to write back to Damian and give the letter to him, Damian is all of a sudden so much better. His sickness and depression is gone and he “got up the next morning…he combed his hair, he preened himself, he tidied up, he did everything that pleased his lady. And also January he was as obedient and humble as a well-trained hunting dog” (Chaucer 765-770). He was better and no longer sick because his desires were realistic now, May wanted him back, and he knew. Damian sucks up to January after he realizes May’s desire for him. He is so joyous, he obeys January so well, but what January does not know, is Damian really is treating him so wrong. Both May and Damian are deceiving him in his own home and he has no idea. For Damian to stick with May’s plan of sneaking into January’s special garden, and for him to sleep with January’s own wife in his own
He falls in love at first sight of May at January and May’s own wedding, “everyone was full of joy and contentment- all but…Damian, who had carved before the knight for many a day: he was so ravished with his lady May that for the very pain he was nearly mad; he almost languished and fainted where he stood…” (Chaucer 527-531). Damian is jealous May is with January, he want her for himself. Damian goes off to his room and stays “ill” for a long while until the caring January asks that May go comfort Damian and make sure that Damian, his great squire, is okay. When May goes into Damian’s room, he discreetly slips her a note and knows he is wrong by it because he tells May, “Your Mercy! Do not reveal me, for I am dead if this thing is made known” (Chaucer 698-699). That is the only thing he says to May, he does not discuss the note, but acknowledges his wrongdoing and the betrayal of January by telling May in the note the love he has for her. January is very thoughtful and courteous to Damian, Damian is so wrong for deceiving January like he is. After May finds an opportunity to write back to Damian and give the letter to him, Damian is all of a sudden so much better. His sickness and depression is gone and he “got up the next morning…he combed his hair, he preened himself, he tidied up, he did everything that pleased his lady. And also January he was as obedient and humble as a well-trained hunting dog” (Chaucer 765-770). He was better and no longer sick because his desires were realistic now, May wanted him back, and he knew. Damian sucks up to January after he realizes May’s desire for him. He is so joyous, he obeys January so well, but what January does not know, is Damian really is treating him so wrong. Both May and Damian are deceiving him in his own home and he has no idea. For Damian to stick with May’s plan of sneaking into January’s special garden, and for him to sleep with January’s own wife in his own