Chaucer's Characters' Retribution in The Miller's Tale
Chaucer's Characters' Retribution in The Miller's Tale
In ‘The Miller’s Tale’ Chaucer embraces the medieval genres of fabliaux and of mystery plays. This amusing tale builds to a ridiculous and complicated climax that hinges on an intricate trick within the story leaving the reader in almost fits of laughter at the outcome. However, when the more amusing side of the story is put aside one must ask oneself whether every character has received what he or she deserves or if a terrible miscarriage of justice has taken place.
The tale is set around four main characters. The first of whom we are introduced to is John the carpenter. John is portrayed as a very foolish character. He is married to Alisoun who is much younger than him at a mere 18 years of age. His jealous and controlling nature in how he acts towards Alisoun puts him in a very bad light, ‘Jalous he was, and held hire narwe in cage.’
Another factor central to his character is his hypocrisy. This is in the sense that he constantly scolds Nicholas for his interest in God’s ‘pryvetee,’ but as soon as Nicholas offers John the chance to benefit from his knowledge in the matter John immediately accepts. This, coupled with his gullibility eventually leads to his downfall. These vital flaws in his character perhaps suggest that his humiliation is just in the end. However the selfless love he has for his wife, ‘Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;’ in my opinion overshadows his flaws and result in his humiliation being much too harsh.
However this is not something that relates to Nicholas, the poor astronomy student. Chaucer tells us of how he preferred to sing his time away and be supported financially by his friends which suggests a very lazy attitude and that he thinks he can survive off the effort of others.
He goes on to sleep with John’s(his lanlord’s) wife and the fact that Chaucer tells the reader of how he knows of secret loves suggests that it is not the first time that he has committed this particularly major sin. This deceitful nature that he has been accustomed to serves to justify that he ultimately ends up being branded on his behind with a hot poker.
It is Absolon who brands Nicholas in response to his trick in which he is totally and utterly humiliated in...