The Canterbury Tales and Enrique Iglesias
In Chaucer's epic poem, The Canterbury Tales, you get a real taste of different kinds of people of the Middle Ages. The Canterbury Tales are stories told by different characters to pass the time on the way to their destination. The character of the Squire, who is approximately twenty years old, and the son of a knight, is of average height, strong, agile, can read and write, and likes to impress the ladies by singing and dancing. Enrique Iglesias, a Latin Pop star, is much like the Squire in numerous ways. With their similarities in singing talent, appearance, and love life, the comparison is remarkable.
One way the Squire and Enrique Iglesias both try to get the ladies is by singing and using their dance moves. The Squire is described as "singing.in hope to win the ladies grace." (Chaucer 107), It seems, as all he does is spend time trying to impress the girls. Since he gets so little sleep, the Squires singing and dancing obviously impresses the girls. Enrique Iglesias says his songs are "love songs". (Enrique's Great Escape 1) He has recorded his love songs in four different languages, trying to reach the hearts of women everywhere. Enrique Iglesias wants to impress people and, clearly is an icon. Enrique Iglesias and The Squire both use their singing talents to win women over.
Another way the Squire and Enrique are similar is in their appearance. "Short was his gown, the sleeves were long and wide" and "with locks of curly hair" (Chaucer 107). For the time, the Squire's clothes were flashy and out of the ordinary. His gown was short, some say to show off his legs. Enrique is a "Twenty-six year old hunk." (Enrique's Great Escape 3) He wears flashy clothing, just like the Squire. In his steamy videos, Enrique likes to show off his body. Like his father, Enrique has the face of an angel, and the women know it! Both Enrique and the Squire dress to impress.
The last main thing Enrique Iglesias and the Squire have in common is their love lives. Considered a "Latin Lover" from Rolling Stone Magazine, Enrique says his "sex life has defiantly grown," ('I'm sick of Casual Sex' 1). Being the heartthrob that he is, Enrique is known for sleeping around and wooing the ladies. Enrique Iglesias is notorious for getting "close and cozy" ('Anna's Hero' page 1) with co-stars and the women that he works with. The Squire, "loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale, he slept as little as a nightingale". He as well, was a man who got around. Just like today, it was not considered wrong for a man to sleep around with numerous women. Enrique Iglesias and the Squire are considered lovers who really don't know the real meaning of love.
The Squire and Enrique Iglesias are alike in many ways. With their remarkable similarities in singing, dancing, appearance, and love lives, it's easy to see why the women wanted them. Although centuries apart, not much has changed in how men try to impress women.
Bibliography
1. Marshall, Kristine and Malread Stack. Elements of Literature. New York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston, 2000.
2. Lewittes, Michael. "Anna's Hero." Rollingstone Magazine Online. Rollingstone Magazine. March 4, 2002. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=15423&cf=8364
3. Bliss, Karen. "Enrique's Great Escape." Rollingstone Magazine Online. Rollingstone Magazine. November 15, 2001. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=14939&cf=8364
4. "I'm sick of casual Sex." Lycos e-News 2001. http://sg.entertainment.lycosasia.com/arts/seen/seenhg/3058.html
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