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Ethical Pilgrims In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

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Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales depicts a wide range of characters of different class, ages, background, and financial background, and each of these components have an effect the pilgrim’s morality. Chaucer portrays four characters in particular as more principled than the rest: The Knight, the Parson, the Clerk, and the Yeman. These four virtuous characters share common ethical traits, the most important being the motivation to help others, the next rejecting luxury, and the last showing skill in their jobs.
Chaucer bases morality on the motivation to help others before yourself, a trait that these four principled characters have in common. Helping others ranks first as the most important virtuous trait because improving the …show more content…
Proficiency in one’s job shows determination and proves reliability to others; by displaying dependability, that person betters their community and those in it by making themselves a reliable source when needed by others. The Knight demonstrates this quality by his capability in battle, especially in the Crusades: “as well in Cristendom as hethenesse, and evere honoured for his worthinesse” (49-50). His worthiness and skill in battle make him a trustworthy option for those in need of his assistance in battle. Next, the Parson shows his dependability and qualification to work in the church since, “a bettre preest I trowe ther nowher noon is” (526). As a first-rate priest, those who come to him with problems know they will be fully understood and their disputes will be resolved. Because of this, the community will be happier and less unnecessarily dramatic since they have an empathetic outlet for their disagreements. Also, the Clerk achieves his motivation by exerting passion and determination towards his studies, which “took he moost cure and heede” (305). By learning all that he can, the Clerk can pass on his extensive knowledge to his future students; a better informed community has less ignorance and misunderstanding. Finally, the Yeman serves the knight superbly since “well coude he dresse his takel yemanly” (106). The Yeman’s skill with weapons allows him to provide the finest tools for the Knight, so that he has optimum success in battle. Each of righteous character proves reliability to their community by skill in their

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