Pride Versus Love

A detailed Summary of Pride Versus Love

In the description of the Prioress found in the prologue of The Canterbury

Tales, Chaucer depicts this woman as one who would appear to on-lookers as

being mannerly, becoming, and pleasant. The phrase where Chaucer wrote "She

was a great delight, and always tried, To imitate court ways, and had her

pride" would indicate that not only did the Prioress place a great deal of

importance on her outward appearance but that she also took pride in it as

well. (1, 1174) This might lead the reader to consider that Chaucer is

creating a possibility within the prologue that the Prioress might practice

her religion in a hypocritical fashion. The tale of the Prioress begins

with her praying in such an outlandish manner that it also leaves the

indication of being for show rather than for true devoted worship and praise

From the inscription "All things are subject to love" found upon her brooch

to her sympathetic feelings concerning the lowliest of creatures, Chaucer

defines the Prioress inwardly as one who based the true measure of

description and the tale it can be inferred that Chaucer felt it was

creatures. "As for charity and tender feelings, She melted at whatever was

emphasis is made in the prologue concerning the fact that the Prioress is

child who lives with only his widow mother and attends a nearby Catholic

he could worship him better. However, he was persecuted and eventually

Approximate Word count = 768
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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