Discussion: Essentially, the prologue gives readers a plausible scenario in which all of these people

would be in a location together and telling stories to each other. The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
acts as an explanation and an introduction to the Tales, and it allows Geoffrey Chaucer to arrange and
establish the hierarchy of the pilgrims.

Analysis: The Canterbury Tales Summary and Analysis of General Prologue "When April comes with
his sweet, fragrant showers, which pierce the dry ground of March, and bathe every root of every plant
in sweet liquid, then people desire to go on pilgrimages." Thus begins the famous opening to The
Canterbury Tales.

Reflection: What I’ve learned from the Canterbury Tales Prologue, The Pardoners Tale, and the Wife
of Bath’s Tale is that Chaucer is pointing out society problems throughout the time period. He points out
in all of the tales written that the church has corrupt members in power and that women should have
more of a equality in marriage and in courts across Europe. His social commentary is through the
published books in all sections of the Canterbury Tales.

In the Prologue of the Canterbury tales you are introduced to all the characters. Chaucer explains each
of what they do and then he says what he believes they are doing wrong and sometimes makes fun of
them. Chaucer then points out what is wrong in society about what each of them do. In the Pardoner’s
tale 3 brothers believe that death is a real person and goes to find him because Death killed one of their
friends. they find gold on their search and sends the younger back to town, the two remaining plot his
death while the younger plots both of theirs. All three end up dying and none of them get the gold. This
is greed, the root of all evil at work. In the Wife of bath’s she tells a tale about a knight who does a
wrong deed against a woman and is giving to the queen to deal with, she punishes him by telling him to
go search for what a woman truly wants for 1 year and 1 day. He comes back empty and she asks him to
marry her. in the end she gives him a choice on whether he wants her or to find someone not loyal. She
rewards him by being with him and turning young because he learned what women truly want this is
self-same sovereignty.

 I believe that Self same sovereignty does exist in modern day now that there are laws in place. I
also believe that greed exists as well through politicians and high business owners. Sometimes
self-same sovereignty and greed can be in the same problems. Greed is the root of all evil and
self same sovereignty is equality in marriage. Without greed there would be a better place but
you need evil to have good.