Question

How would you characterize the personality of the narrator, based on what you have read in the General Prologue? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your answer should be at least one hundred words

Answer 1

The narrator appears to be a good-natured person who isn't judgmental to anyone. He is a great observer of other people's personal traits and motivations, and apparently, he has great fun interacting with them. However, there is a satirical undertone to his observations and descriptions.

For example, when he describes the luxurious way of life of the Monk, he explains his view that all the restricting rules about poverty and humility imposed on monks and clergy by St. Benedict and St. Augustin are stupid and boring. What's more, he (the narrator) agrees with the Monk:

"The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit,By-cause that it was old and som-del streit,This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace,And held after the newe world the space.He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,That seith, that hunters been nat holy men;Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees,Is lykned til a fish that is waterlees;This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloistre.But thilke text held he nat worth an oistre;And I seyde, his opinioun was good.What sholde he studie, and make him-selven wood,Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure,Or swinken with his handes, and laboure,As Austin bit? How shal the world be served?Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved."

So, while the narrator doesn't judge on anyone, he has humorous remarks and never misses any of the details that betray the true natures of those people.

In the narrator's words, the Summoner would give you his own girlfriend for some alcohol, and then go and find another one. Nevertheless, he is so fine a fellow that it would be hard to find a better one:

"He was a gentil harlot and a kinde;A bettre felawe sholde men noght finde.He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,A good felawe to have his concubynA twelf-month, and excuse him atte fulle:Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle."