Welcome to the World of Chaucer!
Welcome to your study of Geoffrey Chaucer and his famous work, The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale. This text is part of your "Pre-1900 poetry" section, and it’s one of the most entertaining (and slightly scandalous) pieces of literature you’ll ever read!
Don’t worry if the Middle English looks a bit scary at first—think of it as a slightly "glitchy" version of modern English. Once you get the rhythm, it’s like reading a script from a classic comedy. In these notes, we’ll break down the plot, the characters, and the big ideas you need for your OCR A Level exam.
1. What is the Merchant’s Tale About?
At its heart, this is a story about a very old man named January who decides to marry a very young woman named May. He thinks marriage will be a "paradise" where he can do whatever he wants. However, he quickly learns that marriage is much more complicated than he thought!
The Plot in a Nutshell:
1. January, a wealthy old knight, decides to get married for the wrong reasons (mostly for physical pleasure and to "produce an heir").
2. He ignores the advice of his wise friend Justinuse and listens to his "yes-man" friend Placebo.
3. He marries the beautiful May.
4. Damyan, January’s young squire, falls in love with May.
5. January goes blind (literally), which allows May and Damyan to cheat on him right under his nose (literally, in a pear tree!).
6. January gets his sight back, but May manages to talk her way out of trouble.
Quick Review: This story is a fabliau—a medieval type of "naughty" story that usually involves sex, money, and tricking people who think they are smarter than they actually are.
2. The Merchant: Why is he so grumpy?
Before the story starts, we meet the Merchant in the Prologue. He is one of the pilgrims traveling to Canterbury. He is incredibly unhappy because he has been married for just two months and hates his wife.
Why this matters: Because the Merchant is bitter, he tells a story that makes marriage look terrible. When you write your essays, remember that the story is filtered through his cynical (negative) perspective.
Did you know? In the Middle Ages, merchants were a rising "middle class." They cared a lot about money and appearances, which is why January treats May like a piece of property he has bought.
3. Key Characters and What They Represent
To keep the characters straight, try this simple analogy:
January: Like an old man buying a sports car he can’t drive. He is delusional and self-absorbed.
May: Initially seen as a "fresh" and silent prize, she eventually becomes a clever trickster.
Damyan: The "romantic" lead, but Chaucer portrays him more like a leech or a sneaky servant than a noble hero.
Important Concept: Blindness
January’s physical blindness in the middle of the tale is a symbol of his mental blindness. He was "blind" to the truth long before his eyes stopped working because he refused to see May as a real person with her own feelings.
Memory Aid: Use the 3 B's for January: Bought (he bought a wife), Blind (physically and mentally), and Bamboozled (he was tricked in the end).
4. Big Themes for Your Exam
In your OCR exam, you will need to discuss these themes and how they link to the historical context (the 14th century).
Marriage and the "Marriage Market"
In Chaucer’s time, marriage for the wealthy wasn't usually about love; it was about contracts and property. January chooses May like he’s picking out a piece of fruit at a market. Chaucer uses irony here: January thinks marriage will bring him "holy" peace, but it brings him nothing but stress.
Religion vs. Reality
January constantly uses religion to justify his desires. He claims he wants to marry to avoid "sin," but he really just wants to satisfy his lust. Chaucer is mocking people who use the Bible to get what they want.
Youth vs. Age
This is a classic "Senex Amans" (the aged lover) story. The contrast between the cold, wintery "January" and the fresh, spring-like "May" suggests that their union is unnatural. In literature of this time, January (Winter) is always destined to lose to May (Spring).
Key Takeaway: The Merchant’s Tale is a satire. It mocks the idea of "Courtly Love" (noble, pure love) by showing characters who are actually quite selfish and crude.
5. Language and Structure: Tips for Analysis
Don't worry if you find the language tricky! Here are a few things to look out for that will gain you marks for AO2 (Language, Form, and Structure):
1. Animal Imagery: January is often compared to a "mousethar" or a "colt". This makes his sexual desires look silly or animalistic rather than human.
2. The Garden Setting: January builds a beautiful "walled garden." This is a parody of the Garden of Eden. But instead of God being there, we have the Roman gods Pluto and Proserpina arguing like a normal married couple!
3. The Narrator’s Voice: Look for moments where the Merchant interrupts the story to complain about his own life. This reminds the reader that the story is biased.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Thinking May is a victim. While January treats her poorly, May is very active in her own deception. By the end of the tale, she has the "upper hand."
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Merchant. Always remember that the Merchant is telling this story. If the story feels mean-spirited, it’s because he is a mean-spirited man!
Mistake 3: Over-complicating the Middle English. In your exam, focus on the keywords. You don't need to translate every line perfectly; you just need to understand the tone and the imagery.
7. Quick Review Box
Context: Written in the late 1300s; explores 14th-century views on marriage, class, and gender.
Genre: Fabliau (crude comedy) mixed with elements of a "Marriage Debate."
Structure: A Prologue followed by a narrative tale.
Main Conflict: January’s desire for control vs. May’s desire for freedom/Damyan.
Ending: January is "blinded" by May’s excuses, showing that he prefers a happy lie to a painful truth.
Encouragement: You're doing great! Chaucer is meant to be funny and provocative. If you find yourself laughing at how ridiculous January is, you’re reading it exactly the way Chaucer intended!