The writer is the reflection of his society, all he traces is the language of contemporary society. His work, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, is a multi-faceted achievement that demonstrates him as a poet and storyteller. Historians, without reading his work, cannot write history. The characterization art of him is very simple and eminent.
He is very fantastic in the interpretation of his characters. He carefully observes his characters. He examines behaviors, manners, dresses, and all clothing thoroughly. His work, prologue to the Canterbury tales is a good work, there in thirty characters are led on a pilgrimage morally and socially representing Spanish society. His work is suitable for all ages.
All of its thirty characters represent different professions, as The Knight and Squire represent the warrior class ready to shed blood for the good of the country. Chaucer describes that where there is dispute, there is a gentleman to meet and reconcile. It is also added that there was a great desire to be the gentleman as possessor and executor of power. He does a great job. The squire represents the jovial and cheerful disposition with the signs of success. The Man of Law, the Doctor, and the Oxford Clerk belong to the scholarly line of work.
The Merchant and the Navigator represent the higher trading community, while the Wife of Bath, an expert weaver, represents the merchants and the company. Agriculture is represented by Plowman, Miller and Franklin. his way of describing the Monk is very funny but polite. As it says that the monk has a mania for hunting and taming dogs. His description of all the characters shows his soft humor.
These characters represent various types of contemporary society. They possess different qualities and manners and move before us like true human beings. His characters are perfectly realistic. Some of them are so modern that they seem to be living today. The Old Knight is an example of the chivalrous character found in every generation. The Merchant is very proud of growing wealth, while the Lawman like lawyers of all time is raising fees and buying up land. We recognize in him the typical lawyer of our days: it is the peculiarity by virtue of which he is called the poet of the modern age.
There are characters like the Prioress, the Monk, the Franklin, the Reeve, the Summoner, the Pardoner, and the Wife of Bath that we didn’t identify at first. But none of them are really extinct. They have changed names and professions, but their main part is an element of humanity. That is why when we accompany the Pilgrims on their way we feel at home and we do not have the sensation of being among strangers.
Chaucer’s art of characterization is superb. He looks at his characters positively and marks each of the men and women thoroughly and distinguishably. His way of narrating is excellent, chasing readers to be his companions. Chaucer conveys a strong sense of distinction and depth of portraiture. He just shows the realities of it without any satire or harsh humor.
Chaucer’s method of portraying characters is a scientific way by differentiating them by means of their conspicuous features. It was for the first time in European literature that a writer demonstrated a clear awareness of the relationship between individuals and ideas. Furthermore, Chaucer’s characters grow and develop throughout the story, like living human beings. They give their opinions on the stories that have been told and these comments reveal their central thoughts, their feelings and the objects of their interests.
Thus Chaucer is the master in the art of characterization.
