Question

What idea does the description of the prioress in the prologue to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales convey? She was a devout nun for whom religion and God were of prime importance. She was concerned for the general well-being of her fellow pilgrims. She aspired to courtly life and behaved like a court lady rather than a nun. She was not a person devoted to fashion and courtly manners.

Answer 1

The idea is that the lady wasn't really focused on how she looked or what people thought of her. She focused more on the fact of her faith and the people she cared about, she had a very high self esteem and thought highly of herself.

Answer 2

In the General prologue, Chaucer satirizes several characters from various classes and professions. Beginning with the highest class to lower. The first character whom Chaucer introduces is the Prioress who is a nun. She is the first among the female to be described, the first question that evokes in the reader's mind is that such higher religious clergy doesn't take a vow of leading a simple life? Hence, Chaucer satirizes the church, as the members of the church belonged from the upper class. The prioress took advantage from the poor for her own good. She was very well 'dainty' and was well-dressed. Being known as "Madame Eglantyne", she was so pretentious that she hardly knew any words of French.

Therefore, the description of the prioress in the prologue to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales convey that she aspired to courtly life and behaved like a court lady rather than a nun.