Canterbury Tales Chaunticleer; Behind The Rooster Essay Example For Students

Canterbury Tales: Chaunticleer; Behind The Rooster Essay Canterbury Tales: Chaunticleer; Behind the RoosterIn the book Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, gives us a stunning taleabout a rooster named Chaunticleer. Chaunticleer, who is the King of his domainin his farmland kingdom. Like a King, he quotes passages from intellectuals,dreams vivid dreams, has a libido that runs like a bat out of hell, and isdescribed as a very elegant looking Rooster. He has every characteristic of aperson belonging to the upper class. Chaucers hidden meanings and ideas make usthink that the story is about roosters and farm animals, but in reality he ismaking the Aristocracy of his time period the subject of his mockery by makingthe reader realize how clueless the Aristocracy can be to the way things are inthe real World. Chaucer describes Chaunticleer in many different ways. One of them ishis language. Chaunticleers language is that of a scholar. He quotes manydifferent scriptures in a conversation with Pertelote, such as, Saint Kenelm,Daniel and Joseph (from the bible), and Croesus. From each author he tells astory about an individual who had a vision in a dream and the dream came true. He may have been making all the stories up in order to win the argument withPertelote, but, this seems unlikely because he does not take heed to his ownadvice and stay away from the fox that encounters him later. He is educatedenough to know these supposed quotations but not intelligent enough tounderstand the real meaning of them. It is if he simply brings because they helphim win the argument with his spouse and not because he actually believes whatthey say. Chaucer is using the idea that the Aristocracy has schoolingthroughout their childhood, but it is only done to have seemingly important butempty conversations. His physical appearance is also described with such beautiful passionthat it makes us think Chaunticleer is heaven on earth. His comb was redderthan fine coral, and crenellated like a castle wall; his bill was black andshone like jet; his legs and toes were like azure; his nails whiter than lily;and his color like the burnished gold. Chaucer describes Chaunticleer as thequintessential Cock, so perfect that his description is no longer believablewhen we realize he is describing a Rooster. Chaucer is setting up Chaunticleerto be as regal and grandiose as a King. Even though he looks like a milliondollars he is still very shallow inside. He lies to his spouse just to keep herhappy and his every thought is of fornication. Like the Aristocracy he takesmany pleasures of the flesh with no real commitment to his duty as a rooster. Chaunticleers character appears to be that of a shallow used carsalesman. He lies to his spouse about his opinion of women just so he can rideher later in the morning. Mulier est hominis confusio; Madame, the meaning ofthis Latin is, Woman is mans joy and all his bliss.' The real meaning is Woman is mans ruin. He tells her a lie to ensure he gets what he wants fromher later. He seems like the type of person who would say anything to get whatthey want no matter the truth or whom it hurts. He also falls victim to his ownhubris, something that is not uncommon to most rich arrogant people. Chaucers creation of Chaunticleer is done solely to imitate and mockthe upper class. Chaunticleer is educated, like people in the upper class; looksgood, as people with money can afford to do; and revolves around the pleasuresof the flesh like a pre-pubescent child. Had he not been riding Pertelote allmorning he might have seen the fox coming and been able to avoid becomingcaptured. His attitude was that of the upper class, that he is too good to worryabout lifes little trivial matters and that he loves to have pleasure. The foxis able to dupe him simply by flattering his voice. the reason I came wasonly to hear how you sing.. He is so consumed with living in his own grandiosetwisted reality, where nothing bad happens, that he does not realize that a foxis about to gobble him up! He does have an epiphany at the end, however, Nomore through your flattery get me to close my eyes and sing. For he whoknowingly blinks when he should see, God let him never thrive. Chaucer uses thecharacte r Chaunticleer to poke fun at the Aristocracy and all their tendenciestowards living life in the name of consummate pleasure seekers, and not in thename of reality driven people.