Chaucer depicts the medieval English society in many ways in his masterpiece The Canterbury Tales. Religion is an important theme in the work. The religious figures described by the author give us an insight to the religious life back to the medieval society of England. Hubert, the Friar, one of the characters who tell tales, well serve this purpose.
During the medieval period, friars vowed to lead a poor life depending on charity, however, the character under Chaucer’s pen makes a fortune, living in a luxurious lifestyle. As a matter of fact, friars were only allowed to beg or hear confessions or administer sacraments in certain areas with a given license to support themselves. This is why Chaucer calls the Friar a “limiter” in line 213. In his description, what Hubert does seems like a business. He was “qualified to hear confessions, or so he said” (line 222-3), but he was also “an easy man in penance-giving where he could hope to make a decent living” (line 227-8). Hubert wants to make more money than needed for a decent life by giving God’s forgiveness in an easy manner as long as he receives money or any gifts from confessors. He does not appear like a “cloistered scholar with threadbare” (line 267-8). Instead, he wears expensive clothes, like his “double-worsted” semi-scope (line 270). This is a violation of friars’ vows. They are supposed to spend their whole life in poverty.
Hubert also fails to perform other duties. The life of a friar suggests connections with the poor and sick. However, Chaucer’s character devotes himself to cultivating an intimate relation with the wealthy. He believes “nothing good can come of dealing with the slum-and-gutter dwellers, but only with the rich and victual-sellers” (line 250-2). He knows less the “lepers, beggars and that crew” (line 246), which is contrary to his duties. What he does to the poor shows how irresponsible he is. This Friar does not offer his sincere help to the poor, but even collects money from a widow who “mightn’t have a shoe” (line 259).
The inappropriate behaviors of the Friar are also exposed by Chaucer. The Friar seduces young women, and then arranges marriage for them. He pays for any possible consequences, for instance, the lady gets pregnant, and gives “what he could afford her” (line 217). This type of secular life should not be pursued by friars. Moreover, Hubert makes acquaintance with people like “every innkeeper and barmaid” (line 245). In fact, he is supposed to offer his sincere help to the poor such as lepers. And Hubert has the skills of playing harp and singing, and seems a master of music, which is inappropriate to his profession as a friar. The descriptions of Hubert’s behaviors help reveal the religious atmosphere in Chaucer’s society, and express the author’s condemnation to it.
Chaucer’s use of characters is much significant in terms of depicting the English society in medieval period, and through this, one could interpret the author’s opinions of this society. The religious elements in the work and religious figures like Hubert, the Friar, could be regarded as an approach to understand the religious context of Chaucer’s society and his attitudes to it.
Leave A Comment