Characterization
January (The Knight)
Strong Loyal Bachelor Lives in Lombardy, Pavia for over 60 years Had an urge to marry since 16 Believes women should be under 20 Thinks that old women are tricky Blind |
Placebo
Believes to do all things by advice Stands at a high position (socially) Never joins debates with people of high class |
Justinus
Brothers with Placebo Believes that choosing a wife needs consideration Think before you enter a marriage |
Damian
Squire of January Falls in love with May Has an affair with May in a tree |
May
Marries January Cheats on him in the garden with Damian |
psychoanalysis
"The Merchant's Tale" focuses on 3 main characters who each have different
desires. First, January is an old knight who wants to marry a young woman.
"Married man achieves a state of bliss that's orderly and fortunate"(Chaucer
358). This shows that he believes marriage is good, which would lead one to
believe that he wants to have a wife. He soon meets May and marries her,
meeting his desire. One can infer that January is pleased with his wife because
he wants his guests to leave the wedding so that they could be alone together.
"I wish these guests would hurry up and go!"(Chaucer 370) January proclaims
anxiously.
The next character, May, is married to January. May is
in her twenti...es,
and could be considered deceiving. It seems as though things only went downhill
after their wedding, "She didn't think his games were worth a groat,"(Chaucer
373). One can infer that she was unhappy during her marriage as she admits,"She
could not rid her heart of Damian"(Chaucer 376). After January is blinded, May
soon meets her desire of having an affair with Damian
Lastly,
Damian, is a squire of January who is also young. After January and May's
wedding day, he becomes ill and is not able to serve the knight. Feeling bad,
January makes an effort to see him, "I'll visit him myself; and so shall
May"(Chaucer 374). This proves that January does appreciate him, indicating
that he is like-able and/or a well worker. Felling better, Damian wants to
continue things with May, "Holding her hand and never letting go,"(Chaucer 379).
This proves Damian's love for May, which is eventually met as they have an
affair. Damian's outrageous goal was met in the end as he has an affair with
her in January's beloved garden.
desires. First, January is an old knight who wants to marry a young woman.
"Married man achieves a state of bliss that's orderly and fortunate"(Chaucer
358). This shows that he believes marriage is good, which would lead one to
believe that he wants to have a wife. He soon meets May and marries her,
meeting his desire. One can infer that January is pleased with his wife because
he wants his guests to leave the wedding so that they could be alone together.
"I wish these guests would hurry up and go!"(Chaucer 370) January proclaims
anxiously.
The next character, May, is married to January. May is
in her twenti...es,
and could be considered deceiving. It seems as though things only went downhill
after their wedding, "She didn't think his games were worth a groat,"(Chaucer
373). One can infer that she was unhappy during her marriage as she admits,"She
could not rid her heart of Damian"(Chaucer 376). After January is blinded, May
soon meets her desire of having an affair with Damian
Lastly,
Damian, is a squire of January who is also young. After January and May's
wedding day, he becomes ill and is not able to serve the knight. Feeling bad,
January makes an effort to see him, "I'll visit him myself; and so shall
May"(Chaucer 374). This proves that January does appreciate him, indicating
that he is like-able and/or a well worker. Felling better, Damian wants to
continue things with May, "Holding her hand and never letting go,"(Chaucer 379).
This proves Damian's love for May, which is eventually met as they have an
affair. Damian's outrageous goal was met in the end as he has an affair with
her in January's beloved garden.