I think the Miller's tale adds some humor to the story and breaks up the tale nicely even if the people may reject him telling the story out of the social status order, but oh well! The Miller really seems like he wants to basically shit on the knight's tale and give a more graphic, rude, and harsh story that shows people in a different light.
The Miller's characteristics for Alisoun were extremely different than we are used to hearing. I looked up "she is a piggesyne for any lord to leggen in his bede". "Piggesyne" seems to be a tender chicken? He compares her with animal characteristics which is strange and maybe a little offensive. He also describes her with having a lustful eye but you can't really argue that she doesn't after she tricked her husband just so she could have a night alone with Nicholas.
The story took an unexpected turn in my opinion with all the talk about God. I liked how John thought he deserved his madness after poking around with God's privacy. I thought it was funny however that when Nicholas told John about the flood that was to come, John was completely on board with it. I did feel bad because he wanted to protect his wife, Alisoun who was going to stab him in the back anyway.
Poor Absolon, but then not really. This was a classic Pepe Le Pew and Penelope Pussycat situation. He seemed a little annoying to me when he was poking his nose where it should not have been. I guess it is sweet to have an admirer but he must have known she was married so it takes a lot of courage to snoop around her house and ask for a kiss from her. I think he got what he deserved, but Nicholas passing gas in his face? Maybe a bit much but hey it's fitting when the Miller is telling the story.
I thought that Alisoun and Nicholas were going to be found out and that they would be the ones humiliated in front of the town, but it was poor John who got laughed at again. Not only was his wife a liar and a cheater, she flipped it around on him so that everyone would think he was crazy! I guess they weren't as dumb as I thought.
Oh my god I love drunk uncle, and this entire story totally reminded me of him! The entire concept of a drunk guy trying to shit on another dude's romantic story is honestly pretty hilarious, and I think Chaucer deserves props for making fun of his own stories in this way. This entire story honestly feels like an SNL skit.
ReplyDeleteIn a way, isn't Absolon semi following the whole Courtly Love thing (even though there's nothing courtly about this)? She's married (and already has a lover), but Absolon doesn't know this. We've already read several stories where the woman is married, but still takes a lover. So did he deserve it, besides not catching the whole not interested thing? Bro probably has pink eye now, not gonna lie. Also, lol this is very Pepe Le Pew like! xD
ReplyDelete-Kirsten Purser
"A tender chicken," oh my God. I love how Middle English opens up our vocabularies, whether we learn more words to use or find new ways to define and use words we already know. I assumed he was describing her as a pig, but Dictionary.com said "darling" and "eye." Tender seems to fit, and I'd describe my lover as "tender," but I wouldn't tack on "chicken." I'm not sure if that's real, but it's certainly satirical if it is, just like the Miller's tale is supposed to be. Is anyone else wishing they were a native Middle English speaker? I feel like Chaucer would be much more fun if I didn't have to research the connotation of words and such!
ReplyDeleteAmanda