Chaucers Canterbury Tales - The Parson :: Parson Essays

The Parson What He Said and Why The Canterbury Tales offer more characters whose vocation does not match his or her tale. This often provides humor and provokes a great deal thought. Yet Chaucer makes the parson match his tale. This provokes a more serious ingest of thought. Thus Chaucer shows forth his brilliance in his versatility of subject matter. The first social function one should notice in the Parsons tale is that the Parson refuses to assort a fable. In lines 30-36, the Parson gives his reasoning for a straightforward prose. He ordain not tell a story mixed with chaff and wheat. Rather, he chooses to tell a tale in nonfiction prose so whole can understand with clarity. His object is not so much to tell an impressive story but to show forth what he deems important. Second, he speaks in a respectable medieval manner by profession upon authorities. Whereas the wife of Bath says she will not reference authorities, he does so unashamedly. He references the Biblical fig ures Matthew, Jeremiah, Solomon, David, Jesus, Job, Hezekiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Jeremiah, Moses, Isaiah, Micah, John, Joseph, Paul, Zechariah, and Luke. In addition he refers to scholars and saints such as Ambrose, Isidore, Gregory, Augustine, Chrysostom, Bernard, Seneca, Basil, Damasus, and Galen. As Augustine has been the or so influential person in Church history, Augustine is the most quoted authority he uses. Moreover, he includes a lengthy discussion on mortal and venial sins. He exemplifies many ways one whitethorn fall into one of the seven deadly sins. Such offenses include give control as murder and nocturnal emission as adultery. He also gives guidelines how to prevent those sins. He offers hope to the penitent by condition forth the prescribed method of reconciliation ordained by blessed Church.