I enjoyed the fact that as readers, we get to be in on the jokes that are played out. I knew this chick Alisoun was going to be unfaithful from the start; their age is the biggest indicator. She was quickly wooed by Nicholas and falls in love. I think she plays the most major role in deceit, by convincing her husband that a fake flood was headed their way so that she could spend a night in his bed with her lover.
John, poor, poor John. The only honest one in this whole charade. I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy! He tried to protect his wife from drowning, and in the end, he’s made out to be a fool! He’ll never be taken seriously again by his neighbors. Nicholas and Alisoun make everyone believe he’s crazy when they’re the ones getting it on in John’s bed!
To me, there’s no sense of true love in this story; it’s all about sex. Absolon tries to make us believe that he wants to court Alisoun, but all he’s interested in is sex. This dude got what he deserved if you ask me. Trying to kiss another man’s wife (even if she is committing adultery) is wrong! I’m glad he has to kiss ass, personally.
John is the only poor bastard I feel for in this story, even though his love for his wife was somewhat misguided, he still had good intentions. In correlation to Nicholas’ and Alisoun’s fucked up moral codes, John’s devotion to his wife is endearing!
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. My favorite so far!
I feel like describing this whole story as a hot mess is pretty accurate. Everything is ridiculous and all of the characters are pretty terrible people, and that's the fun in it. I totally agree about the fun in being let on about who these characters are from the start - Allisoun doesn't get the treatment that our heroines normally get, and is instead a straight-up trophy wife. This kind of story and its ridiculousness feels very modern, and I could definitely see it getting recreated today in some way.
ReplyDeleteLololol Hot mess is insanely accurate for this story. Between a man kissing another man's ass (unknowingly, but totes deserves), said man whose ass was kissed being branded on said ass, a man falling from his rafters, adultery, and promise of a (fake) flood, this story is all sorts of craziness and I loved every minute of it. I agree, it is endearing that John is devoted to Alisoun (such a cinnamon roll). Also, Ellie, 100% agree with the modern feel. This would definitely fall under that comedy category, but I have the distinct feeling there would be some edits to it (so long as it's just "The Miller's Tale" otherwise if someone recreated the whole of 'The Canterbury Tales,' this would stand just fine on its own.
ReplyDelete-Kirsten Purser
Am I the only one who doesnt feel bad for John? He has to know. Allisoun is younger than him and essentially they shouldnt even be together. I dont feel bad for him because in a situation like that he had to know and I feel like when you know what you are getting yourself into and you do it anyway thats your fault. lol. I also agree with Ellie about the story feeling very modern, It might be funny to see it recreaated.
ReplyDeleteI agree that John has good intentions, and I feel bad for him, but this story NEEDS John to be hopelessly devoted and get screwed over by his own wife; I wouldn't have it any other way. It's extremely entertaining. However, it's definitely translatable to modern day relationships, and that's just kind of sad. I mean, her lies are outlandish, but there are women out there going out of their ways to lie to their husbands for the same reasons. Love won't tear us apart, but sex might...fucked up moral codes might. I'm glad Chaucer wrote the female as the one lying for sex, rather than the male. I wouldn't feel like reading the overdone "male lies, male cheats on a female." A scandalous women is definitely more exciting.
ReplyDelete-Amanda
I love this tale so much! It is hilarious and definitely a hot arse mess (haha)! I love how we can spot the ridiculousness of the characters from the start but how unpredictable the ending is! I love how all of the details were tied up and closed which made the tale satifying despite its vulgarity.
ReplyDeleteYes, as others have said, John is essential for the tale's design and humorous outcome. The female as the focus is not unusual but i agree that a women being the cheating spouse works as well to make the story a bit more interesting. John and the wooing church fool are recognizable as men without a lot going for them--they lose out but then again, Nicolas and Allison are really shallow too so its hard to feel bad about any of these losers. John, the least likely to blame, only gets what he deserves for marrying the "trophy" wife--a soulless enterprise.
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