How The Monk In The Canterbury Tales

The “Monk”
The Canterbury Tales by Jeffrey Chaucer tells the story of a pilgrims’ journey while travelling to Canterbury. In means of entertainment, their host proposes that each one of them tells two stories on the way to and back from their destination. He also claims himself as a judge of these stories and proclaims that the announced winner will earn a free diner. As the storyteller Chaucer tells each story and gives a detailed portray of its main character. This essay demonstrates that in The Monk’s tale, Chaucer describes the monk’s personality, his characteristics, and his physical appearance.
To begin with, the monk’s physical appearances are described. He is described as bald with bulged eyes. Not to mention that he was fat, and “[a] fat swan loved he best of any roast” (Canterbury Tales, 42). Assuming that monks spend their days in prayer and feast,

In fact, he has abandoned these rules because they are “old and somewhat strict” (Canterbury Tales, 10). Instead, he has “followed new-world manners” (Canterbury Tales, 12). Hence, the monk goes against the typical type his character is ought to be, for he is “one made for mastery” (Canterbury Tales, 1). In Addition, “[h]e cared not for that text a clean-plucked hen /Which holds that hunters are not holy men” (Canterbury Tales, 13-14). Actually, hunting is his greatest pleasure and his roars where loud. Is not a monk supposed to care less for this world’s materials? However, this monk lives in luxury, follows the pleasures that his heart pursuits, and acts recklessly. “What? Should he study as a madman would/ Upon a book in cloister cell? Or yet/ Go labour with his hands and swink and sweat,/As Austin bids? How shall the world be served?” (Canterbury Tales, 20-23). Chaucer thinks otherwise. This monk is a “manly man” (Canterbury Tales, 3) who is meant to be an “abbot able” (Canterbury Tales,