English Literature

Submitted to:
Mr. Saifullah Raheel Sab
Submitted by:
Muhammad Aziz Ullaha
Topic:
Chaucer’s Irony
Date: 15-02-2021

Informatics Group of Colleges

Fort Abbas
Chaucer's Irony:
Chaucer’s Use of Irony in The Canterbury Tales in The Canterbury Tales,
Geoffrey Chaucer compiles a mixture of stories on a pilgrimage into a figurative
depiction of the medieval society in which he lived. Chaucer’s stories have a punch
and pizzazz, which, to an average reader, seem uncommon to the typical medieval
writer, making his story more delightful. Certain things account for this pizzazz,
especially the author’s use of irony. Many of Chaucer’s characters are ironic in the
sense that they are so far from what one would expect in the roles they depict, and
also the fact that they are larger than life.
Most of Chaucer's characters are not what they ought to be.
Firstly, the whole conception of the Prioress is based on irony. The description of
her physical beauty and dress suggested that she is the heroine of some romance,
though she is a religious figure. The irony is highlighted by the conflict between
appearance and reality.
Secondly, the Monk, who had deserted his ecclesiastical duties, has been ironically
presented as a lover of horse-riding and hare-hunting.
Thirdly, Chaucer's irony is crystal clear when he remarks that the Lawyer was the
busiest man in England. Chaucer's remarks about the Doctor of Physic are equally
ironical.
The use of the word 'worthy' for the most unworthy characters brings a tickling
irony except for the 'worthy' Knight. 
Chaucer's use of irony to build up a satirical portrait and to make us laugh is
clearly seen in his presentation of the Prioress. The Prioress speaks French
fluently, according to the school of Stratford-at-Bow. This is an ironical reference
to the Prioress's aristocratic breeding. Her dress and her fashionable manners are
also ironically described. Her charitable nature too is depicted in such a way as to
amuse us. Her spirit of charity is seen chiefly in her feeding her pet dogs with
expensive foods, a clearly ironical fling. The ironic implication throughout the
portrait of the Prioress is that, in spite of her holy calling, she is more concerned
with worldly things than with the spirit. At the same time, Chaucer makes the
Prioress quite amiable by emphasizing her essential femininity. The portrait of the
Prioress is thus a prominent example of Chaucer's tolerant view of human failings
textualized in an amusing and delightful, manner in which he reveals them to us.
The Monk, too, is portrayed satirically. He is fond of hunting; he keeps a large
number of fine horses in his stable. When he rides, the jingling of the bells on the
bridle of his horse is heard at a distance; he finds the rules of monastic discipline to
be old and therefore out of date; he does not wish to drive himself mad by studying
too much and so on. The worldliness of this Monk is clearly exposed by the ironic
stroke and the whole portrait is rounded off with a reference to his partiality for a
roast, fat swan, even as the Prioress's portrait is rounded off with an ironical
reference to the inscription "Love conquers all" on her brooch. Irony is also
employed in the portrait of the Friar. Here are the most ironical lines in this
portrait: "He was a noble pillar of his order". This line amuses us, especially when
we know that the man is mercenary. We have some of Chaucer's most bitter ironies
when he describes the Friar as telling the sinners that they have merely to give
money to men like him to order to obtain divine forgiveness. Ironical humor occurs
in the portrait of the Merchant when Chaucer tells us that the Merchant is so
dignified in his dealing and his bargaining that no one could judge that the
Merchant was in debt. The Lawyer amuses us by pretending to be busier than he is.
The Lawyer's fraudulent transactions are not made by Chaucer an object of any
vehement criticism; these are simply hinted at in order to amuse us by pointing out
the incongruity between his vast legal ability and his essential dishonesty and
cunning. But Chaucer does not castigate the Lawyer. Chaucer's spirit of toleration
and indulgence is clearly seen here.