The Prioress of The Canterbury Tales :: Canterbury Tales Essays

The Prioress of The Canterbury Tales In the poem, by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer depicts the volume of the church service and describes them as people who are not the sole embodiment of people who have sworn themselves to perfection, and to live by the 4 curses that the church requires them to hallow themselves to. The Prioress, a Nun, is no exception, but Chaucer does not directly say how she represents the four vows but rather it is what he does not say that leads people to call back the Prioress is the exact opposite of what is expected of a nun that has move herself to the four vows. Men and women of the church are expected to live in scantness and hold no worldly possessions. The Prioress spoke of owning smallish dogs, which is strictly prohibited in a convent, and treating them exceptionally well and be extremely attached to them. By owing these dogs she profaned the vow of poverty but the most apparent item that she owns is a gold broche that and leads the commentator to believe that she was not entirely devoted to the church. Chaucer spent a with child(p) deal of time explaining how she was extremely obsessed with her etiquette, that hints to the reader that she is more suitable to be a beloved lady rather than a nun. In the days of Chaucer, women used excellent etiquette to attract and keep lovers. This indicates that the Prioress in not completely faithful to her vow of chastity, but rather a woman of promiscuity. The vow of obedience, in reference to the Prioress, is probably the most fishy vow of the four, since he neer mentions it. While Chaucer is describing the Prioress he never once mentions how she serves God or nothing of that sort. This leaves the reader wondering if she serves God well or does not, but it is obvious that she has failed to follow the other vows and that this peerless is no exception. A nun should pray, study, do service to God, and live a confined life free from temptation, but the Prioress has already violated the first three vows and those have to be followed to successful fulfill the vow of obedience.