Miller's Tale

Do you believe that Chaucer thinks courtly love provides a useful set of rules and behaviors to guide man and women in their relationship?

By analyzing two of the major characters, Nicholas and Absalon, and their relative success in relationships, explain what you believe Chaucer is telling us about courtly love though this tale.

The Miller's tale story is about two characters that were pursuing the attention and affection of the beautiful Alison who was married to John the carpenter. These characters were Nicholas and Absalon. The character whose efforts proved triumphant in doing so was Nicholas. However, Absalon was the character that reminded faithful to the rules of courtly love and his attempts to wins over Alison accomplished nothing. Courtly love is a forbidden relationship and is characterized by five main attributes. It was believed that by following these guidelines, the man would win the affection of an unobtainable women and their adulterous relationship would begin. Both Nicholas and Absalon at times fulfilled each of the five character tics.

Nicholas in a way did fulfill this attribute of being an aristocrat to some degree. Noble lord and ladies practiced courtly love. Even though in the story the miller's tale it says, "His lodger a poor student"( pg 60). Nicholas was still a well educated young man. "Who made some studies in the arts, but all his fancy turned to astrology and geomancy,"( pg 60) This revealed that his family was not part of the lower class. The fact that he was getting an education proves that he was not underprivileged. When it came to being Ritualistic, Nicholas failed to fulfill this element. He did not exchange gifts or tokens of their affair. He did not try to wooo Alison by sing songs, performing sweet and loving favour and was not a gentleman. Instead Nicholas was very impolite "Students are sly and giving way to whim, he made a grab and caught her by the quim (pg 61). He was also ill-mannered. Alison confirmed this fact when she said, "Where are your manners? Take your paws away!" (pg 61). He also enjoyed taking advantage of Women," One day began to romp and make a pass at this young woman, in the mood of play" (Pg 61). He did quite the opposite for this characteristic. It says that Nicholas is very sly, and it was because of this talent why he was able to keep their affair a secret. Alison wanted to make sure their secret was kept under rap so she told Nicholas "Unless you watch your step and hold your breath I know fro certain..... So keep it well under your hat."(pg 61). Nicholas was completely aware of the situation and of what he was going to be apart, an adulterous affair. Nicholas and Alison wanted to sleep together at once for is says, she then would sleep with Nicholas all night fro such was his desire and hers as well" (62). When John the carpenter was out of the scene it say, "came Nicholas and Alison sped, softly downstairs and without a word to bed,... and thus lay Nicholas and Alison busy in solace and the quest of fun"( 62). Nicholas did not purposely try to follow this ideal idea. He obviously thought it would be of no use because he already considered himself witty and sly enough to get the attention of any woman.

Absalon is a true example of an aristocratic man. He was a man of a good position and authority. This fact is proved in the tale where it reveals what exactly Absalon position was where is say "There was a parish