The Canterbury Tales

In The Miller s Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer creates the lives of many characters. Some characters are good, while others have hidden faces. Two characters, Alison and Nicholas are first viewed on their outward appearances. After a second look, their true sides are unveiled. Chaucer uses hidden imagery to reflect the true sides of Alison and Nicholas.

When studying a painting, one must look closely to discover the fine details that will lead to a better understanding of the artist s work. When looking at Alison, a person sees that she [is] only eighteen years old (TMT, 83). Alison is a fair young wife (TMT, 83), whose figure is slim as a mast (TMT, 84). Her complexion always shone as bright as day (TMT, 85) and had as bright a glint, as any gold piece freshly from the mint (TMT, 84). Alison is considered a primrose or a sweet pig s eye (TMT, 84) because her beauty is something that is envied by others. Alison is described as an ideal woman, whose physical beauty is something to be proud of. The physical images of her remains in the reader s head, because it is the most striking. The focus on her beauty shifts to another side of her during the description of her eyes. She had a wanton eye. / Her brows were narrow- she had plucked them so- / And they were arched, and black as sloe (TMT, 83). Alison s eyes are the opening to her soul. Her lack of morals is seen thorough her eyes. The shape of her eyebrows describes her as a devious woman. The blackness of her eyebrows describes the color of her soul. Alison knows her husband is so full of jealousy (TMT, 85). She realizes [she is] as good as dead (TMT, 85) if her husband finds out she has an affair with Nicholas. She will not give in to Nicholas until such a thing could safely be (TMT, 85). Although she is a gorgeous woman on the outside, her eyes give a glimpse of her true self. Like in a painting, the most important detail, that she is willing to cheat on her

husband can be over looked because of the other overwhelming aspects such as her loveliness. Alison s external beauty captures a person before they realize who she really is.

Nicholas is portrayed as a poor young student (TMT, 82) who is highly gifted. He rooms at the house of John and Alison. Even though Nicholas is considered of low social status, John respects Nicholas because he [has] learned the arts (TMT, 82), but is now devoted to astrology (TMT, 82). Nicholas is very well educated, and he uses it to get what he wants. He [is] sly and subtle as [can] be (TMT, 82). Nicholas uses the respect that John has for him to his advantage. He creates a cover of modesty (TMT, 82), but he is really waiting for the right time to reveal his secret love (TMT, 82) for Alison. Nicholas is viewed as scented with pleasant herbs, and trim and neat (TMT, 82) because of his intelligence. He is a conniving man who develops a subtle plot (TMT, 87) to deceive a simple, jealous husband (TMT, 87). Nicholas tells John, a man who loves his wife more than he [loves] his life (TMT, 83) that he must save his wife from a flood or else she shall drown (TMT, 90). Nicholas knows that John will do anything to save his wife. Nicholas takes advantage of the man s respect for him, in order to have an affair with his wife. Nicholas protects himself from being found guilty of his affair by declaring that [John] [is] mad (TMT, 99). Nicholas tricks his landlord, takes the landlord s wife to bed (TMT, 94), and declares him crazy all about the town (TMT, 98). Nicholas is depicted as a low class person who is highly educated. Underneath he is a sly person who is only cares about his own well-being, regardless of whose reputation he destroys.

Alison and Nicholas are two characters that are portrayed differently after a deeper look. Alison captures people by her beauty. Her beauty causes people to oversee her true intentions. Alison s true self is revealed once people look beyond her beauty. John respects Nicholas

because of his education; John trusts that what Nicholas tells him is true. Nicholas takes advantage of how people view him. He misleads John in order to have an affair with Alison. These characters are an example of what happens when someone or something is not studied carefully. Important details are overlooked because another detail hides them.

Works Cited

1. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Trans. Frank Ernest Hill.

New York: Heritage Press. 1946