Genre of "the Merchant's Tale" |
May and Damian having an affair in a pear tree. While January is unaware of what is occurring.
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Fabliau ~ stories based on clever tricks and
infidelity "The Merchant’s Tale", falls under the genre of fabliau, a story based on clever tricks involving infidelity. This makes sense because May plays a trick on January by manipulating him into thinking she wanted a pear. Instead, she really wants to have an affair with Damian. Therefore, May is swindling her husband expressing infidelity. As Chaucer describes in the tale, “‘No matter sir,’ said she, / ‘For if you would consent / … Then I could climb up…’ she said, / ‘Of course,’ he said… upon his back she stood / … went up into the tree, and Damian / pulled up her smock…” (Chaucer, 386). Here, May is very deceptive by creating a stunt to be unfaithful to her husband, which is why this tale fall under the genre of fabliau. Although this is a common fabliau story line, the beginning of the story makes it seem as though the tale were to be an exemplum due to how it discusses the different views of marriage. In other words, it seems as though it would go on to teach a moral lesson. Also in a fabliau the characters are usually in the middle class, whereas in this tale they are in the upper class (knight and squire) (Rossignol)
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