This paper will scrutinize the “Miller’s Tale” and the “Reeve’s Tale” with regard to their erotic contents and the instances of obscene speech. The main emphasis will be put on a discussion on the genre of the tales as well as the question, whether instances of eroticism are really the light-hearted expression of joyful lust, or rather skillful narrative means serving both the authentic representation of the characters and the emphasizing of the tales’ overall morals.
There is hardly any period in history that has preoccupied people of later eras as much as the Middle Ages. They have been a recurring popular subject in literature over the last two hundred years. The film industry could not go without them. One reason for this fascination might be the fact that the Middle Ages are both a part of our own history, still visible in magnificent church buildings, and an era that lies half a millennium away from us. This distance and a rather limited knowledge about the ‘real’ circumstances contribute to a hazy image leaving plenty of space for interpretation and imagination.
A popular view on the Middle Ages from our perspective is that of jaunty folk, who enjoyed their lives being free of the restraints of our modern society. It is therefore not surprising that the Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini chose the “Canterbury Tales” for one of the films in his Trilogy of Life the other two being Bocaccio’s “The Decameron and Arabian Nights”. Pasolini made his films in a time which today is referred to as the ‘Sexual Revolution’. Perhaps it was the undisguised depiction of sexuality in some of the “Canterbury Tales” which had inspired him to adapt them for the screen.
One of the “Canterbury Tales” we find in Pasolini’s film is the “Miller’s Tale”. It is the second story being told, after the “Knight’s Tale”, and it forms a unit, or a diptych, together with the Reeve’s Tale, which follows. One does not have to approve of Pasolini’s intentions in order to acknowledge the erotic elements in both of these tales. Having a closer look at the instances of eroticism in the tales leads to the question of the author’s motivation to employ them. Are the “Miller’s” and the “Reeve’s Tale” erotic stories written with the intention to arouse sexual feelings, or were they rather meant to challenge and provoke the contemporary authorities? Was it common literary practice in Chaucer’s time to use erotic or obscene speech, or did he break new ground in literature?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Chaucer’s Time
3. Church and Faith
2.1 The Attitude towards Sexuality
4. Fabliaux
4.1 Realism
4.2 Language and Morality
4.3 Morals
4.4 Fabliaux and Sex
5. Conclusion
6. References
Objectives & Core Themes
This academic paper examines the depiction and function of eroticism and obscene speech within Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Miller’s Tale" and "Reeve’s Tale." It seeks to determine whether these elements are merely light-hearted expressions of lust or narrative devices intended to enhance the authentication of characters and emphasize the moral framework of the tales.
- Analysis of the genre "fabliau" and its formal characteristics.
- Evaluation of medieval social structures, Church influence, and attitudes toward sexuality.
- Examination of realism and character presentation in the context of the Canterbury Tales.
- Discussion on the narrative function of eroticism as a tool for character credibility rather than mere arousal.
Excerpt from the Book
4.4 Fabliaux and Sex
A very popular topic in fabliaux is sexuality. The set of sexually motivated behaviour in the continental fabliaux ranges from simple yearning or unfulfilled sexual desire to fornication and adultery, and even to crude sexual fantasies. To a modern reader this explicit depiction of eroticism may appear obscene or even pornographic. But such an impression would be based on the notion of pornography that we have today. The OED defines the term as follows: “The explicit description or exhibition of sexual subjects or activity in literature, painting, films, etc., in a manner intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic feelings; printed or visual material containing this.” (Oxford English Dictionary online; 30 August 2010) The crucial passage here is “in a manner intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic feelings”. Does this apply to our fabliaux?
We have seen that there are passages in the Miller’s Tale, when Alison is described, which are full of erotic allusions. But this description is hardly suitable to arouse sexual desire, neither in a modern nor a medieval reader’s mind. If we look at the instances of obscene speech in the Miller’s Tale and the Reeve’s Tale, the ones that have been quoted in chapter 4.2, it may be helpful to take a closer look at their context. In the Miller’s Tale it is at the beginning of the actual plot, after the characters have been introduced. We have already been informed about Nicholas’ experience in line 3200–3201: “Of deerne love he koude and of solas; / And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,”. In line 3271 then Chaucer lets the plot begin, and here it is important to know that Nicholas has a crush on her. Interestingly, Chaucer uses the term ‘prive’ in both passages, the description of Nicholas and the passage where he grabs under her skirt. Nicholas is not a clumsy teenager but a cunning lover, who knows what he wants and how to get it. At the end of the story, when the Miller is fast asleep in his trough, and Alison and Nicholas finally have the chance to sleep with each other, we do not find any obscene word at all. Obscene speech in the Miller’s Tale is a means of depicting an authentic image of the protagonist rather than arousing erotic feelings.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the fascination with the Middle Ages and introduces the Miller’s and Reeve’s Tale as a diptych for analyzing eroticism and narrative intent.
2. Chaucer’s Time: Provides a historical overview of the 14th century, covering the socio-economic impact of the Black Death and the feudal system.
3. Church and Faith: Discusses the structure of medieval society, the Catholic Church's political dominance, and the rigid moral landscape of the era.
2.1 The Attitude towards Sexuality: Analyzes the theological and legal roots of the Church's hostility toward sexual expression and the gender hierarchy of the time.
4. Fabliaux: Defines the fabliau genre, its Continental origins, and its adaptation by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales.
4.1 Realism: Explores the concepts of realism and "authentication" in medieval literature, focusing on character presentation.
4.2 Language and Morality: Examines the role of tone, lewd speech, and moral constraints in the context of Chaucer’s audience.
4.3 Morals: Contrasts the fabliau with the exemplum genre and interprets the specific moral lessons within the Miller’s and Reeve’s tales.
4.4 Fabliaux and Sex: Argues that eroticism and obscene speech in the tales serve as narrative tools for character building rather than pornographic stimuli.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes how the two tales function as a diptych, using sex to achieve different narrative ends—desire versus revenge.
6. References: Lists the primary and secondary literature used for the analysis.
Keywords
Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Miller’s Tale, Reeve’s Tale, Fabliau, Eroticism, Middle Ages, Medieval Morality, Realism, Authentication, Gender Roles, Obscenity, Diptych, Sexual Desire, Narrative Structure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the depiction and function of eroticism and obscene language in two specific stories from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: the Miller's Tale and the Reeve's Tale.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the literary genre of the fabliau, the influence of Church morality on medieval sexuality, the definition of realism in literature, and the function of "obscene" speech in narrative construction.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The author aims to explore whether the erotic elements in these tales are meant to arouse readers or if they serve a more sophisticated narrative purpose, such as character authentication and moral emphasis.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper employs a literary analysis approach, contextualized by historical and sociological research into the 14th century, examining both primary texts and secondary scholarly criticism.
What aspects of the tales are covered in the main body?
The main body examines the historical background of Chaucer’s time, the rigid moral codes of the Church, the formal characteristics of the fabliau, and a detailed comparison of how eroticism is utilized in the two chosen tales.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Fabliau, Eroticism, Medieval Morality, Realism, and Character Authentication.
How does the author characterize the relationship between the two tales?
The author uses the art term "diptych" to describe the two tales, suggesting they are two parts of a whole, connected by a narrative "hinge" of revenge and conflicting personalities.
Does the author argue that these tales are pornographic?
No, the author argues against the modern perception of pornography, stating that the erotic allusions and obscene speech in Chaucer's works serve as "marked language" to create authentic, believable characters.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Michael Pieck (Autor:in), 2010, The Joy of Lust? The Depiction and Function of Eroticism in Chaucer's "Miller's Tale" and "Reeve's Tale", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/341549
