Chaucers Use Of Clothing And Effective Rhetorical Device Essay Example For Students

Chaucers Use Of Clothing: And Effective Rhetorical Device Essay Chaucers Use of Clothing: an Effective Rhetorical Device In Literature, as in real life, characters are sometimes judged by their appearance. The description of clothing provides detail and comment on those wearing them. Chaucers uses of artifice in The Canterbury Tales function as gauges of the social status and economic wealth, and emotional condition of each pilgrim. Artifice effectively provides a badge of humanity, symbolic of each characters fallibility. Yet clothing simultaneously imposes upon the characters literary stereotypes, which they consequentially adopt. Unable to transcend these ascribed roles, the pilgrims sometimes find themselves bound by literary stereotypes and narrative function, which they tend to fulfill rather than reject. Although Chaucers Canterbury Tales transcend a Romantic stereotype, his characters often do not. They find themselves bound to the conventions of Romance, as they are bound by the clothes that define them. Chaucers materialistic focus enhances this metaphor and deconstructs the purism of Christianity throughout their physical journey. This aspect of characterization functions to illuminate the meanings inherent in the costumes of the secular pilgrims, revealing the extent of their conformity, through their dress, to 14th century social, political, and religious norms. The General Prologue provides a great deal of information regarding the Knights appearance. The Knight entitled by rank to wear the finest of garments and clothes, is dressed in armor that is shabby, rusty, and possibly useless. The fact that he humbly adorns the uncomfortable suit, and even carries his bloodstained sword, indicates the knights sense of honor and tradition, but also shows the means by which his clothing serves to weigh him down. The idea of an artifice, such as armor, that was designed to protect but later becomes a binding, and ultimately harmful, is a prominent theme throughout the tale. In the case of the Knight it can be inferred that his physical description directly represents his demeanor. He is completely sincere and chivalrous in all his deeds; Chaucer explicitly states that the Knight that fro the tyme that he first bigan/ To ryden out, he loved chivalrye/ Trouthe and honour, freedom, and curteisye The tale told by the knight, reflective of his character and background, consequentially pays special attention to clothing as a means of status recognition. For example, after Theseus had conquered Thebes, his soldiers discovered the two Knights, Palamon and Arcite: After the bataille and disconfiture. And so bifel, that in the tas they founde, Thurgh-girt with many a grievous blody wounde, Two yonge Knigtes ligginge by and by, bothe in oon armes, wrought ful richely, f whiche two Arcite highte that oon, and that oother Knyght highte Palamon. Nat fully quike ne fully dede they were, but by hir cote-armures and by hir gere the heraudes knewe hem best in special As they that, werein of blood royal Or Thebes, and of sustren two y-born 150-161. Arcite and Palamon are identified by their clothing: but by hir cote armures, which establishes their stature: as they that were in blood royal, and consequentially saves their  ives. However, although they are allowed to live they must remain in the prison tower. The situation shows how the emblem of their clothing provided initial protection, yet alludes to the consequences of aesthetically justified decisions. The use of costume is also commonly used as a means of disguise. Arcite escapes from prison by taking advantage of his drastically altered appearance. He realizes after looking at his face in the mirror, and saugh that changed was al his colour, / and saugh his visage al in another kynde. 1400-01, and could therefore enter Athens unrecognized; and right anon he changed his array, / And cladde hym as a poure laborer, 1408-09. Arcite becomes a squire for Theseus, and therefore must dress him in his armor or costume; which is slightly ironic in that Arcite himself, is also dressed deceivingly. Theme Comparison Of The Catcher In The Rye And Franny And Zooey EssayContrastingly, the tale of the Miller that follows uses frequent nakedness as a means to quyte the knightes tale, 19 by refuting all formality. But without any formal ornamentation, only pity or despair can be gained from nakedness. Whereas The Knights Tale embraces the formality of artifice to the point of absolute disdain and coldness, the Miller goes to the other extreme of shedding clothing, which ultimately reveals a path of conflict as well. The frequent theme of sexual and moral freedom produces a sense of naturalism, the very antithesis of chivalrous romanticism. In The Millers Tale Chaucer counters formality with the absence of artifices, which, in this tale, accurately parallels the absence of morality. Another example of artifice as a binding contract, similar to that of knighthood, can be seen in the tale and character of the Prioress. Her appearance reveals the depths of her vanity and, consequentially, her despicable character. The nun is truly unsatisfied with her status in life- many women entered into the church out of necessity i.e. without dowry, widowed, orphaned etc.; and it is evident that she truly desires aristocracy. Along with placing importance upon frivolous behaviors such as courtly manners and etiquette, the prioress is consumed with materialism, and lacks piety. Her clothing  is far from simple, and indicates her ungodly ideals; Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war/ Of small coral aboute hire arm she bar/ A peive of bedes, guaded al with grene/ And theron heng a broche of gord ful shene 157-160. The brooch, however, is perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the nuns appearance with its inscription: love conquers all, ambiguously testing the boundaries of religious devotion. The questionable reference leaves debate as to whether she admires celestial or earthly love, but regardless of intention suggests that she isnt what she seems. In addition to wearing an elegant cloak and jewelry, she also pinned her veil so as to reveal her forehead, which symbolized good breeding, as opposed to just above the eyebrows as expected. The appearance of the Prioress similarly depicts the idea of clothing as a binding artifice, as her uniform perpetually binds her to a world she doesnt want to be in. Additionally, the prioress reveals and solidifies Chaucers reoccurring comment on the changing of ideologies in his society, and especially the corruption of religious purism. The prominence of clothing as a narrative function not only allows Chaucer to create a picture of Middle-Aged society, but also to subtlety voice his own disapproval. His criticism is apparent, yet he doesnt make harsh or subjective judgments. Instead, Chaucer simply describes what each character looks like physically and what theyre doing; and then leaves the reader to question what the character should be, compared to what they are. Chaucer explicitly chose to describe the pilgrims and make them the focal point of the entire pilgrimage, as opposed to the journey itself. Further, the minimal presence of beneficial divine intervention emphasizes the significance of each characters decisions as they apply to their own ascribed roles. Materialistic metaphor functions to convey these roles, and ultimately evaluates each pilgrim. Consequentially, Chaucers Canterbury Tales provides clarification of his sociological perspective on Romanticism, through the observation of humanitys adherence to moral norms.