Gone Medieval: Canterbury Tales – Pilgrims' Professions
Episode Release Date: July 11, 2025
Host: Matt Lewis
Guest: Professor Robert Mayer Lee
Introduction
In the latest episode of Gone Medieval, hosted by Matt Lewis and featuring Professor Robert Mayer Lee, the discussion delves deep into Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Building upon the foundation laid in the previous episode about the Wife of Bath, this installment focuses on understanding the diverse professions of Chaucer’s pilgrims and what they reveal about medieval society.
Understanding The Canterbury Tales
Professor Lee begins by elucidating the structure and significance of The Canterbury Tales. He describes the work as a “linked collection of short stories” where each pilgrim narrates their own tale, providing a multifaceted glimpse into medieval life. He emphasizes the episodes' interactive nature, where each story connects to its teller, enhancing the overall complexity and artistic depth of Chaucer’s unfinished masterpiece.
“The combination of a simple form that produces such enormous complexity… makes it endlessly fascinating as a literary composition.” ([05:16])
The Merchant: A Portrait of Social Ambiguity
The conversation shifts to one of the key pilgrims: the Merchant. Professor Lee paints a vivid picture of medieval merchants as international wholesalers, particularly involved in the lucrative wool trade. He highlights the precarious nature of their business, where outward displays of prosperity often masked underlying debts.
“Chaucer emphasizes how reserved he is and how much he’s hiding… the phenomenon of a class-based persona that is created.” ([09:13])
This portrayal reflects the emerging middle class's complexities, caught between immense wealth and the constant risk of financial instability. The Merchant's Tale, although not directly about commerce, serves as a metaphor for the commodification of values and societal perceptions of wealth and status.
The Clerk: The Eternal Student
Next, the discussion turns to the Clerk, portrayed as a perpetual student consumed by his love for books. Professor Lee explains that in Chaucer’s time, the term "clerk" encompassed a broad range of scholarly pursuits, often tied to church-sponsored education.
“This eternal student… the classic like a starving graduate student… deserves to be called a clerk because of his work for the government.” ([18:14])
The Clerk’s Tale, derived from Petrarch and Boccaccio, explores themes of obedience and virtue through the story of Griselda, reflecting the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the clerical class.
The Squire: Embodying Youthful Idealism
The Squire, the Knight’s son, represents the gallant yet immature youth of Chaucer’s era. Professor Lee describes him as a poet and a lover of courtly traditions, embodying the aspirations and cultural pursuits of the lower nobility.
“The Squire is the only pilgrim described as a poet… there’s a contrast between the nobility as what they were and the nobility as a cultural spectacle.” ([33:49])
His Tale, a fantastical romance set in the court of Genghis Khan, showcases Chaucer’s experimentation with different genres, reflecting the Squire’s idealism and the broader themes of chivalry and cultural exchange.
The Franklin: The Enigmatic Landowner
Finally, the Franklin is examined—a somewhat ambiguous figure representing wealthy landowners without noble titles. Professor Lee discusses the elusive nature of the Franklin’s social standing, which could vary based on context but is generally seen as part of a growing middle strata.
“Chaucer’s Franklin is very interesting because he seems to perform his place in the gentle class extravagantly.” ([40:50])
The Franklin’s Tale, focusing on generosity and marital harmony, contrasts with the preceding tales, highlighting the intricate social dynamics and the blurred lines of class distinctions emerging in medieval England.
Themes of Social Mobility and Class Structure
A central theme explored in the episode is social mobility during Chaucer’s time. Professor Lee connects the professions of the pilgrims to the broader societal shifts post-Black Death, where class structures began to exhibit greater fluidity. The pilgrims' tales reflect the tensions and aspirations of a society in transition, grappling with emerging middle classes and the decline of rigid feudal hierarchies.
“Chaucer found this topic of basically social mobility… it’s embedded into the relations among the pilgrims and the tales they tell.” ([45:32])
Chaucer’s Literary Innovation
Professor Lee praises Chaucer’s ingenuity in blending different literary forms—estate satire and linked narratives—to create a dynamic and reflective work. This innovative approach allows The Canterbury Tales to serve as both a social commentary and a rich literary tapestry, capturing the complexities of medieval life.
“Chaucer was trying his hand at this genre and that genre… it just works so well.” ([15:46])
Favorite and Least Favorite Pilgrims
Towards the end of the episode, Professor Lee shares his personal preferences, citing the Pardoner as his favorite pilgrim due to his complex portrayal of irony and corruption. In contrast, he expresses distaste for the Manciple and the Reeve, highlighting their less favorable characteristics and the morally questionable narratives they present.
“The Pardoner is the most self-admittedly corrupt… The Manciple is just mean.” ([48:20])
Conclusion
In this compelling episode, Gone Medieval offers listeners an insightful analysis of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, using the professions of its pilgrims as lenses to examine the socio-economic transformations of the Middle Ages. Professor Robert Mayer Lee’s expertise illuminates the nuanced interplay between literature and society, making the enduring relevance of Chaucer’s work clear.
Whether you're a seasoned medievalist or a curious newcomer, this episode provides a rich and engaging exploration of one of English literature’s greatest works.
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