8/14/2019 Kavalec 1 Ben Kavalec Mr. McKenna Honors Junior English, 7th

1/3

Kavalec 1

Ben Kavalec

Mr. McKenna

Honors Junior English, 7 th Period

18 November 2008

The Clerks Description of Himself

In order to learn about the characterizations in The Canterbury Tales , we must

first discover the clever writing Geoffrey Chaucer incorporates into his collection of

tales. Chaucer illustrates images of characters so vividly that readers can easily visualize

each individual because of his/her distinctive traits. He accomplishes this in a variety of

manners; however, mostly through the words of The Prologue. By drawing a

connection between The Prologue and The Clerks Tale, Chaucer foretells a subtle

characterization of the Clerk, using Griselda as the main channel of comparison.

Throughout The Clerks Tale, Chaucer heightens interest by relating the human

qualities of the Clerk to those of Griselda. In The Prologue, Chaucer describes the

Clerk as patient, virtuous, and simple; three qualities that Griselda shares in his tale. The

Clerk receives a blatant compliment in The Prologue from Chaucer concerning his

poise: A tone of moral virtue filled his speech (Chaucer 14). In comparison, Chaucer

explicitly mentions Griseldas wholesome qualities during the course of her narrative. For

instance, Griselda remains patient throughout her trials, during which Chaucer hails her

as being among the loveliest [woman] man could ask (326). Griseldas fictional virtue

of patience corresponds to the real life patience of the Clerk, further establishing a

connection between the ideas of the Clerks studying to Griseldas faith in her husband.

8/14/2019 Kavalec 1 Ben Kavalec Mr. McKenna Honors Junior English, 7th

2/3

Kavalec 2

In addition, each character exhibits pragmatic qualities; the Clerks only desire

knowledge and Griseldas only desire happiness.

The outcome of his tale defines precisely the Clerks goals and ambitions he

hopes to achieve in his life. At the conclusion of The Clerks Tale, Griselda lives a life

abundant with happiness in the aftermath of her cunning husband, Walter, performing a

series of tests on her. By expressing Griseldas remaining years as many a year in high

prosperity these two lived on in concord to the close, the Clerk effectively reveals his

true dream. (353) He hopes to achieve happiness from wealth, an immediate result fromhis diligent studies. Similarly, Griseldas final outcome is the product of patience while

dealing with her deceptive husband. Aside from this, each character pursues a life free

from restraints: the Clerk wants to live life free from difficulties, while still maintaining a

highly admirable position in society, and Griselda wishes to establish a life in which she

is not at the risk of Walter abandoning her. The Clerk distinctly climaxes Griseldas

endeavors by recounting her ability to take in patience for all that God may do (354).

The Clerk, who must strive for perfection in his studies, requires Griseldas trait of

patience for any hopes of achieving perfect happiness.

By connecting The Prologue with each of the Pilgrims tales, Chaucer

effectively provides the reader a better understanding of The Canterbury Tales . In doing

so, he delivers the reader an insight of the character he hopes to create. Most notably,

The Prologue is tremendously significant to the plot of The Clerks Tale, because it

foretells the traits of the characters by describing the Clerks characteristics. Moreover,

The Prologue allows the reader to better understand the reason why the Clerk is sharing

8/14/2019 Kavalec 1 Ben Kavalec Mr. McKenna Honors Junior English, 7th

3/3

Kavalec 3

this particular fable with his fellow pilgrims. As a result, Chaucer efficiently creates

interest and fascination so that readers may enjoy the tale more fully.

Works Cited:

Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Trans. Nevill Coghill. London: Penguin

Books, 2003.