Tuesday, October 11Tuesday, October 11Life in 1300-1400 EuropeLife in 1300-1400 Europe

ChaucerChaucer

Simple division of Simple division of people changes from:people changes from:

• Gentils (gentlemen and women) – included King down to knights and squires Gentils (gentlemen and women) – included King down to knights and squires = Nobles= Nobles

• Simples = PeasantaSimples = Peasanta

• Clergy (First)Clergy (First)

• These were the estates and the whole of These were the estates and the whole of Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales is called a form of is called a form of Estates Satire: A medieval Estates Satire: A medieval genregenre common among French poets in which the common among French poets in which the speaker lists various occupations among the three estates of speaker lists various occupations among the three estates of feudalismfeudalism (nobles, peasants, and clergy) and depicts them in a manner that shows how (nobles, peasants, and clergy) and depicts them in a manner that shows how short they fall from the ideal of that occupation. In the late medieval period, short they fall from the ideal of that occupation. In the late medieval period, the the genregenre expanded to discuss the failings of expanded to discuss the failings of bourgeoisbourgeois individuals as well. individuals as well. The The genregenre was not unknown in England. John Gower's was not unknown in England. John Gower's Vox ClamantisVox Clamantis and and Confessio AmantisConfessio Amantis have passages similar to those in continental estates have passages similar to those in continental estates satire. Jill Mann suggests in her famous book, satire. Jill Mann suggests in her famous book, Chaucer and Medieval Estates Chaucer and Medieval Estates SatireSatire, that the General Prologue of , that the General Prologue of The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales is itself an example is itself an example of this of this genregenre..

Extremely complex Extremely complex societysociety

• All levels and gradations of Gentils (gentlemen and women)All levels and gradations of Gentils (gentlemen and women)• Chaucer himself is a great exampleChaucer himself is a great example

• From trades family up to near royaltyFrom trades family up to near royalty• by the time of his granddaughterby the time of his granddaughter• Lived among and worked for royal Lived among and worked for royal • family most of his lifefamily most of his life• Yet he was essentially a Customs Yet he was essentially a Customs • House manager like Hawthorne andHouse manager like Hawthorne and• MelvilleMelville

• See Pride and Prejudice to see that See Pride and Prejudice to see that • the issue is still of significance in 1800’sthe issue is still of significance in 1800’s

•

Complex levels of Complex levels of clergyclergy

All sorts of professions among All sorts of professions among “simples”“simples”

• One actual peasant (3One actual peasant (3rdrd estate) = Plowman estate) = Plowman

• New Middle Class: Reeve, Miller, CookNew Middle Class: Reeve, Miller, Cook

• Merchant, Host, Wife of BathMerchant, Host, Wife of Bath

• Shipman, Man-of-Law (Sergeant of Law)Shipman, Man-of-Law (Sergeant of Law)

• Franklin –wealthy farmer but not ofFranklin –wealthy farmer but not of• Noble birth. Noble birth.

• New Intellectuals: ClerkNew Intellectuals: Clerk

Knight’s TaleKnight’s Tale

Effects of PlagueEffects of Plague

• (1348-9 when Chaucer was a small boy)(1348-9 when Chaucer was a small boy)

• Preoccupation with deathPreoccupation with death

• People became richer – fewer children to inherit, inherited People became richer – fewer children to inherit, inherited larger portions of land, could abandon the poor-yield fieldslarger portions of land, could abandon the poor-yield fields

• Price of food remained low but wages rose by 400% so Price of food remained low but wages rose by 400% so people got richer, even the common laborerspeople got richer, even the common laborers

• Knights & Lords thought their “inferiors” were becoming Knights & Lords thought their “inferiors” were becoming uppishuppish

• Result: tension resulting from betterment.Result: tension resulting from betterment.• Bondmen against lords and lawyers, commoners against Bondmen against lords and lawyers, commoners against

taxmen, clergy against the young king, townsmen against taxmen, clergy against the young king, townsmen against bankersbankers

100 Years War and 100 Years War and traveltravel

• 100 Years’ War 1337-1453 (Chaucer was held 100 Years’ War 1337-1453 (Chaucer was held prisoner in France)prisoner in France)• People became anti-French, pro-EnglishPeople became anti-French, pro-English• London became a center of cultureLondon became a center of culture

• Germany didn’t even have a capitalGermany didn’t even have a capital

• Many more people were literateMany more people were literate

• There were great collections of books There were great collections of books

• ((Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales – we have 80 copies still)– we have 80 copies still)

• People traveled all over – see Knight, Squire, People traveled all over – see Knight, Squire, Pardoner, etc. AND the pilgrimage itselfPardoner, etc. AND the pilgrimage itself

Within the ChurchWithin the Church

Still very Middle Ages (not Renaissance) in the social Still very Middle Ages (not Renaissance) in the social significance of the Church BUTsignificance of the Church BUT

Corruption was so widespread that the clergy who were faithful, Corruption was so widespread that the clergy who were faithful, honest, and charitable were unusual rather than usual (leading honest, and charitable were unusual rather than usual (leading

toward eventual Reformation)toward eventual Reformation)In England, the problems were particularly noticeable – and In England, the problems were particularly noticeable – and ended up in taking over the Norman (French) abbeys well ended up in taking over the Norman (French) abbeys well

before Henry VIII’s timebefore Henry VIII’s timeThere was a divided papacy. One Pope moved to France (out of There was a divided papacy. One Pope moved to France (out of Rome), so with their anti-French feeling, British particularly felt Rome), so with their anti-French feeling, British particularly felt

alienated from the Roman Catholic Church.alienated from the Roman Catholic Church.Result: the people themselves were split: both religious and Result: the people themselves were split: both religious and

anti-clerical anti-clerical

3 kinds of hostility to 3 kinds of hostility to clergyclergy

11 Anger against bishops (who were also high in Anger against bishops (who were also high in the government!!) who mis-used their power. the government!!) who mis-used their power. One bishop had his head cut off. One bishop had his head cut off.

22 Bitter feelings toward the friars becauseBitter feelings toward the friars because

they betrayed their vows of ministry to they betrayed their vows of ministry to 11 the poor, and collected money which the friarsthe poor, and collected money which the friars22 would spend on themselves.would spend on themselves.

3. Disgust with the wealthy Church. 3. Disgust with the wealthy Church.

• What examples do you see in the Prologue?What examples do you see in the Prologue?

Marriage and other Marriage and other arrangementsarrangements

• Chaucer himself: his parents were married, father Chaucer himself: his parents were married, father didn’t die until he was 22, and he had a marriage of 21 didn’t die until he was 22, and he had a marriage of 21 years to Philippa. They probably had 3 children. One, years to Philippa. They probably had 3 children. One, Thomas, became Speaker of the House of Commons Thomas, became Speaker of the House of Commons and Thomas’s daughter, Alice, married a Duke so and Thomas’s daughter, Alice, married a Duke so became a Duchess.became a Duchess.

• Bastardy was very common: Chaucer’s sister-in-law, Bastardy was very common: Chaucer’s sister-in-law, Katherine Swynford (mistress of John of Gaunt) was Katherine Swynford (mistress of John of Gaunt) was the great-grandmother of Henry VII. John of Gaunt and the great-grandmother of Henry VII. John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford married after Gaunt’s wife died.Katherine Swynford married after Gaunt’s wife died.

• Many children were left on their own early in life. Many Many children were left on their own early in life. Many married multiple times. married multiple times.

Task for WednesdayTask for Wednesday

• Look at the Pilgrims not only as Pilgrims but Look at the Pilgrims not only as Pilgrims but as clues to a changing society. There will be as clues to a changing society. There will be conflicts between and among all the Pilgrims, conflicts between and among all the Pilgrims, including conflicts that happen in dueling including conflicts that happen in dueling stories. In some ways, these conflicts within stories. In some ways, these conflicts within the Canterbury Tales reflect societal change the Canterbury Tales reflect societal change and conflict.and conflict.

• Try to find three examples of the High Middle Try to find three examples of the High Middle Ages society reflected in the General Prologue Ages society reflected in the General Prologue to share with the class tomorrow.to share with the class tomorrow.