Chaucer

Comment on Chaucer's use of irony and humor in his introduction to the Prioress.

"Chaucer criticizes the Prioress by praising her very faults."

The Prioress' behavior was ironically superb. As a nun, she was expected to be modest and blend in, but she did not - she stood out, like a white rose in a field of daisies, and even though it was her own doing, it was not entirely her fault. The irony here is her paradoxically ladylike behavior, because she was a nun. Furthermore, being as she is, self-conscious and vain and with double standards about kindness, she is the PRIORESS, adds to the irony.

Madam Eglantine, even in her name - which was commonly used as the fair lady, or damsel in distress in stories of courtly love - was a paradox, and THERE is the irony in her description. 

The Prioress is a nun who was once a lady and has not forgotten it. She behaves as a lady of the court would - weeping for pity for animals, to show the kindness of her heart. We see that it is superfluous, this kindness and pity, and generosity, for she is not shown to extend it to people. She is a nun who wears jewelry bearing symbolism of romantic love. Her devotion to the Lord, if at all, has not been mentioned, even in passing. She is a NUN and she is not pious, modest, religious, truly compassionate or even honest, for that matter. She is a hypocrite, and no one corrects her because she is the Prioress. She is a Prioress even though she is obviously not fit for the role.

Thus the description of Madam Eglantine - the nun, the Prioress, the damsel of the court - is RIFE  with irony, and in this irony is Chaucer's juvenalian humor. He mocks the Prioress, sure enough, but in a subtle, almost sweet manner, so the reader is not revolted by a rancorous, acidic criticism but instead, chuckles to himself or herself in an I-see-what-you-did-there sentiment.

Comment on Chaucer's writing style in the Canterbury Tales and specifically in his description of the Prioress.

Geoffrey Chaucer, considered the father of English poetry, used costume rhetoric, idiosyncrasies, juvenalian humor and excellent visual narrative extensively in the Canterbury Tales, his most famous (and last) work in English, the vulgar, peasant language of his time, the 14th century.

To begin with, it was a very brave move to write in English, let alone speak in English, especially coming from Chaucer, a diplomat of the Royal Court, where one must only speak French - no lesser language was permissible.

Perhaps because of this supposed inferiority of the English language and Chaucer's daring use of it, was his work in English a rebellious and critical commentary on the social order of his time. However, instead of resorting to Horatian humor and indulging in caustic, acidic, repugnant criticism, Chaucer uses Juvenalian satire and very subtly uses gentle sarcasm to mock.

In the Canterbury Tales, and specifically, Chaucer's introduction to the Prioress, he inverts the head-to-toe effectio, darting from her smile and her upper lip, "always wiped so clean, " to her wimple, then her nose, eyes, mouth and fair forehead, and ending with her neat cloak and string of corals.

We also see Fabliant, carnivalesque elements throughout the Canterbury Tales - Chaucer describes, in a quasi sexual manner, the physical characteristics of the Prioress.