Merchant

Merchant

1. in general, we see the merchant as arrogant and superficial in his description. He is also seen as decietful and secretive

   • 'Flaunderish beaver hat'
     • An elegant hat suggest hat from Flanders- suggests he has visited the continent/trades. Wants to give an impression of himself as luxurious
   • 'There wiste no wight... Cherissaaunce'
     • So dignified in behaviour concerning financial bargains- no one knew he was in debt- considers his monetary matters very important -Very concerned with others opinions and view of himself.
   • Concerning always the increase of his profits
     • Primary concern is his profit- making = selfish. Foolish and vein- craves money and the things it can buy him
   • 'worthy'
     • Chaucer alls him 'worthy' or honourable twivce, and the merchant does the same thing with the knight, so when we realise Januarie os not worthy it calls into question the merchants own worthiness.
   • 'estatly was he of his governance'
     • Perhaps indicate smart/clever/deceitful
   • 'I noot how him men him calle'
     • His name remains unknown-removing his individuality and adding to the idea that he represents his whole section of people in society. Many of the Pilgrims are not named but Chaucer draws attention to the fact here, adding to the impression of secrecy.
     • There are fundamentally paradoxical elemtns to his chracter. He ftalks openly and at length about business, including revealing he is involved in illegal currency- dealing, yet does not reveal his name or finincial status.in his tale too at times he is very oblique in expression of opinion, yet i also capable of shocking frankness.
   • 'Some clerks holden that felicitee/ Stant in delit
     • Refers to Epicurus here- philosophy popularly interpreted to mean pleasure is the supreme good and main goal in life.

2. -His view of marriage is one of something very negative and a painful experience. The failings he attributes to her are typical of anti- feminist literature of the time. The merchant bursts into his tale without any invitation by the host. His first lines are apparently in bitter response to the final words of the Clerk, who has just told the tale of the patient Griselda- the story of an unnaturally patient and faithful wife. CONTEXT- women of humble origins- medevil legend who endures the test of wifely patience- Christians were to look up to her.

   • 'weping and wailing...sorwe... worste...snare'
     • Connotations of suffering/pain/sorrow- semating field
   • 'snare'
     • Trap- as if he is supposed to fail- no happiness of joy
   • 'shrewe'
     • hates her nagging/ demanding. Generalises his suffering to all marriages. Derogatory language shows his attitude towards women resembles that of the time- responsible for the fall of man CONTEXT-Unpleasant ill tempered woman, characterising by scolding, nagging- comedic stock character In literature and folklore, Western and Eastern.-Represents insubordinate female behaviour in a system of polarised gender roles that is supposedly male- dominated- Historically shrews were supersticiously feared- believed to have a venemous bite
   • ‘Seint Thoms of Inde’
     • He swears by ‘Seint Thoms of Inde’ The disciple whio had to touch jesus’ resurrection wounds to believe he had been resurrected- implying he had to try marriage before he believed how bad it could be
   • 'labbing shrewe' 'Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd'
     • Igossiping hag- I botterly repent that I am tied to her- See how it links tpo his own marriage
   • The Merchant appears to direct the reader to towards seeing january as misguided from the outset; to understanding the sacrementis a sham designed to lend respectibility to motives only about sex and desire, and that women are all devious schemers like AMy. Chaucer leaves room however for the reader to reject this interpretation and observe that all the obscenities in the tale are the anrrator's. he invites the reader to consider the possibility that January actually is in love with May. These two possible readings of the tale also accomodate the two possible inerpretations of the Merchant, as either an embittered and disillusioned man with an unhealthy interest in sex, or an urbane man of the world, who is caricaturing himself in his attitude.

3. Describes Januaries possessions as superlatively beautiful-

   • 'live ful deliciously/ His housing, hius array.. maked as a kings
     • Listing shows the extent of this- And suggests a tone of admiration in the merchants voice- again what he values
   • 'So fair a gardyn woot i nowher noon' 'he wroot the Romance of the Rose'
     • Garden suggests Adam and Eve-
   • NE Priapus ne mighte natsuffise,.. for to telle/ The beautee of the gardyn and the welle/ That stood under a laurer alwey greene
     • Not even Priapus- god of gardens could describe such beauty- - reminded of Jans image as a laurel
     • Sexual imagery probounds- god of gardens -keys and keyholes are common metaphors for sex
   • pluto and his queene, Prosperina'
     • represents winter and spring, death and rebirth- as do January and May. bride flees for hem husband for six months of the year- making ironic comment about January and MAy's relationship.

4. Final comment is on the message he wishes to portray in this story- harry Bailet's reaction

   • 'Lo whiche sleightes and subtilitees/ In wommen been' 'An from the soothe evere wol they weyve'
     • Look what tricks and treachery are in women- they will always deviate from the truth- vs men described as 'sely' when in fact- Damyan was not- Merchants very arrogant one sided view- Harry's simlpistic view.