Human beast or Human being

People draw a clear distinction between themselves and animals because they are willing to embrace the brighter side of human nature. However, we live in a world that keeps both joy and sadness, both kind and evil, which cause different humanities and natures from each other. Thus, animalistic, haughty, greedy are inevitable capacities of human behavior. To criticize these bad natures, many authors wrote the story or poems; for example, the Biblical flood is a story in the Bible, which about the god was angry at the dark human natures in the world, so he told Noah to build an ark to save some life from the flood. Different from the Biblical flood, in The Miller’s Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer challenges his reader by using the idea of irony and the playful diction in his language to elevate sarcastic humorous to understand the characters’ humanities better.

Firstly, Chaucer utilizes the situational irony in the tale to show the real human natures in a satire effect. There is a clear contrast of Alisoun’s attitude between the beginning of the tale and the flood night. According to Alisoun’s word: “ I wol nat kisse thee, by my fay /Do way youre handes, for your curteisye!” (176,179); when Nicholas wants to kiss with her, she was quite adamant that she would not kiss him because it is strictly forbidden by her faith. She looks like a well-behaved woman though her husband is old. In ironically suggesting that Alisoun emphasizes the word “fay” at the end of the line to show that she is faithful. It makes reader believe that she holds to justice very well. Although Nicholas is handsome and young, Alisoun refuses his kiss without any hesitation. At that time, the reader think she is beautiful and pure. Nevertheless, her faith doesn’t seem as s...

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...anyone of the god’s secret; however, Chaucer displays that: “ And to his wif he tolde his privetee” (495). Obviously, John does not want his wife died in the flood because he loves her. Although Nicholas tells John to keep the secret, he does not want to betray Alisoun and want to protect her.

In conclusion, Geoffrey Chaucer creates the Miller’s Tale in a sarcastic and humor way to show the different humanities of John, Nicholas and Alisoun. With the help of the two kinds of irony and the playful diction, it creates a vivid image to each character, though some diction are difficult to understand. The tale gives a full picture of the real world. It is a truthful reflection of the real people. Although in this tale, Chaucer describes the darker side of the human nature in the tale, as the reader can see that the author has given them to arrange a miserable arisen.