religious themes within Chaucers Canterbury Tales
“Discuss the importance of one or more religious ideas in the Canterbury Tales” There is much that can be said about the religious aspects of “The Canterbury Tales‘”, and moreover the way in which certain writers have been of great influence in the contribution of religious thought and philosophy. One of the most recognisable textual influences upon “The Canterbury Tales” is the work of Anicuis Boethius, the author of what has been deemed “the golden book of the Middle-Ages”[1], “The Consolation of Philosophy”. ... #The book appealed to both pagans and Christians alike, that although there is no religious doctrine relied upon throughout the work and no explicit reference to Christ or the Bible, there is however nothing to conflict with Christianity. ... [5] “bokes of Legendes of seintes, and omelies, and moralitee, and devocioun”[6] # # Chaucer’s major focus within the work, is with major themes such as “fortune”, “desinee” and “divine purveyance”, and the philosophical questions attached. ... [8] The idea of Fortune as a woman is characterised within “The Consolation” as a woman with a spinning wheel that is forever turning, emphasising that we cannot control our own fate. She is described within book two: “She plays with men, first flattering them with her gifts, then deceiving them by taking her gifts away. ... ”[9] Within this description it can be noted that, for Boethius, “Fortune” is an instrument of God. This philosophy quite conveniently enables a logical explanation for the apparently unjust uncertainties of life bearing with it an interesting similarity to explanations given within the Holy Bible, namely “the book of Job”.[10] Within the passage the sinless, God fearing Job has suffered the immense loss of his servants and livestock (his whole livelihood) as well as his six sons and three daughters. ... Boethius explains within his work that if man has a true conception of God, unobscured by worldly desires, he may see hardship and misfortune as a blessing, moulding character , and that evil is consistent with God; and that man although he is free to his own actions, is nevertheless watched over and guided by the almighty. ... [14] This, however, will not protect one from the unjust circumstances that can occur within life , yet it will provide one with an inner security, knowing that they are all part of the divine plan. This concept is illustrated throughout “The Canterbury Tales” particularly within the “Knight’s Tale“, where Chaucer endeavours to illustrate that, as stated by Boethius: “Change is Fortune’s true nature, and within this act she preserves her own particular consistency…” [15] Through the application of this concept Chaucer portrays the instability of human life, that as illustrated by Patrick Gardener “…joy and suffering in the tale are never far apart from one another, and nobody is safe from disaster.