The Canterbury Tales
The story from the Canterbury Tales that I chose is The Friar’s Tale. It is about a corrupt summoner and how he gets what he deserves after trying to ruin an old woman’s life and taking the last of her money. During the prologue to the Friar’s tale, the Friar and the Summoner were bickering back and forth even though the host had repeatedly asked them to stop. The Friar believed he had a great story about the corrupt Summoner and although the host tried to stop him, the Summoner persuaded him into telling it by saying that it didn’t matter what he said, because he had and even better story to tell about the Friar. This is how it came about that the Friar was the 13th story told in the book. He wanted to make a fool of the Summoner, and he thought that his story would put him to total shame. The Friar’s name is Hubert, with a license to beg, and he is corrupt in his actions. He drinks a lot, but is a very well known beggar, despite the fact that he wears very expensive clothing. He knew every tavern in every town, and he was acquainted with every innkeeper and barmaid too. It is said that even the poorest woman would give him money, because he was a quick talker and would do anything for cash. He is quite the matchmaker and kept gifts so he could give them to young girls. Hubert also sang well, despite the lisp he faked so people would feel bad for him. He has a white neck, and he had a strong dislike towards the summoner, which we learn in the prologue and is quite apparent throughout the story. Characters: 1. Summoner (requests appearances in court, etc.): The summoner worked for the archdeacon, and he was the “slyest boy in the land.” He knew what to do to smuggle money out of people, and make profits for himself. He formed a group of people to teach him who he could easily scam money out of and made it his mission to gain money without the archdeacon finding out. He would threaten anyone with the sentence of death or worse, and they would give him anything to get out of that punishment. He was a thief, and he gave his master no more than half the fee of what he earned. He also loved the ladies. He would bring together a group of women and they would lure men toward them, forcing the men to sleep with them. Then the summoner would make up a fake story to summon the men, and pretend to be on their side. He would let the women off (because they helped him) and would tell the men that he had nothing to do with it. This way he got a decent profit and nobody over found out his sly doings, making it able for him to do numerous times. He also mastered the arts of bribery and blackmail, which were useful throughout his distraught career. 3 2. Yeoman (an attendant or servant): The yeoman wore a leafy shawl, and had a bow and arrow set on his back. He had a small, bright green jacket, and a black hat upon his head. He tells the summoner that he is new around the parts he was traveling, and doesn’t know his way around. This may be true, but in reality the yeoman is Satan. He tells the summoner that he is a fiend, which is an ugly beast that can take the shape of other forms. He gives people what they ask for but makes the twists and turns so he can have a profit for himself. He knows when people mean what they say, or when they say things out of the anger of the moment. He realizes the summoner is quite corrupt and decides it is necessary for them to partner up and increase their pocket size, and makes a promise to the summoner that he will stay his “brother” and will share his wealth with him as long as the summoner promises the same. 3. Man: owns horse and cart with hay, damns them to hell when they get stuck in the mud, but blesses them when they finally pull out.