Millers Tale Young Wife Essay - 878 words

Written by Chaucer, the Canterbury Tales has many tales in itself. In this book, pilgrims are to tell their story while on their journey. Of all the tales, the pilgrim who tells the most creative and inventive, of course should be rewarded, and is. One of the many tales told is from a very rich man, the Merchant.


He tells a very unique and original tale. The Merchant tells a tale of a prosperous knight from Lombardy who had not yet taken a wife. Nevertheless, when this knight, January, has turned sixty, whether out of devotion or feebleness, he finally decides to be married. In his search for fresh faces, he is now convinced that the married life was a paradise on earth. Yet, his brother, Justinus, is told that men should not wed, and fears what will come of January's marriage. To this, the knight responds with Biblical stories that state: a man without a wife is bent on ruin.


These stories summon the creation of Eve for Adam as proof that a wife is man's support, as well as examples of humble and devoted wives. January wishes to have a young wife, no older than twenty. He believes that a young wife would be more willing; Justinus warns him that it takes great courage for such an aged man to take a young wife. He also warns him of the misery that can come from taking a wife. Despite the common opinion that Justinus has a wonderful wife, he knows what faults she has. They argue about marriage concerning January, stating that it shall last no longer than 3 years.


January finally decides to take a young and pretty wife, foolishly believing that nobody would object. He speaks to Justinus and his friends about his choice, praising his intended wife. January, however, worries that a man who finds perfect happiness on earth, as he would with his wife, would never find a similar happiness in heaven. Justinus counters by saying that it is more likely that married men will get to heaven than single men, stating that marriage might be January's purgatory. January thus marries his intended, May, in a joyous ceremony. On their wedding night, January forces himself on May, believing himself to be justified because they are now married.


However, Damian, January's squire, is utterly infatuated with May. He writes a love letter to May that he has pinned in a silk purse next to his heart. One day Damian was not ten ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: millers tale, young wife, love letter, damian, january

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