Complexity In The Miller's Tale, By Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer is most infamous for his controversial poems known as, The Canterbury Tales, which were presumably written in the last 14 years of his life. Chaucer lived in around 1343 and later died in 1400 leaving a legacy that will forever be continued. He was the son of a wine merchant, and came across paths with many people that heavily influenced his writing. Chaucer’s first poem he composed of was, “The Book of the Duchess,” an elegy to the Duchess of Lancaster. “Chaucer spoke and wrote the English of the South East Midland region, the language of Gower and Wycliffe, the spoken language of London, and the branch of Middle English from which our own English most directly descends.” (Wetherbee, pg. 14) Chaucer is known for his obscene,

Geoffrey Chaucer put in an extravagant amount of dedication and hard work into his poems, his originality of his work is seen in every piece of his poems, especially in “The Miller’s Tale.” As today, where mockery, deception, and obscenity lives in the world, gripping onto those who are relentless, these three key concepts are clearly depicted through the actions and words of the characters presented in “The Miller 's

One scene we see obscenity through is when the miller describes the first encounter of Alison and Nicholas to his audience.

Now sir, and sir again, it came to pass

That one fine day this Handy Nicholas

With this young wife began to flirt and play,

Her husband off at Osney (anyway

These clerks are cunning when it comes to what

They want), and slyly caught her by the twat; (Chaucer, n.p)

This encounter of Nicholas and Alison is the first time the audience sees this obscene behavior of Nicolas grabbing Alison by the twat, where in today 's world Nicholas 's action would be viewed as sexual assault. Another obscene instance comes from Alison herself, when Absalon is outside of Alison 's window, confessing his love to her, demanding to have just one kiss from the woman he loves.

The night was dark as pitch, as black as coal,

And from the window she stuck out her hole;

And Absalon, not knowing north from south,

Then kissed her naked ass with eager mouth

Before he was aware of all of this.

Then back he started, something seemed amiss:

A woman has no beard, he knew as much,

Yet this was rough and hairy to the touch. (Chaucer,