Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by various characters on a religious pilgrimage. One of the most famous pairs of pilgrims is the Monk and the Parson. The Monk is known for his luxurious lifestyle, while the Parson is known for his dedication to his faith and his humble lifestyle.
The two men offer different perspectives on religion and the world. The Monk represents the corrupt Church of the time, while the Parson represents the ideal Christian priest. The contrast between these two characters provides a valuable insight into the religious landscape of Geoffrey Chaucer’s time.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer tells the story of many distinct characters travelling to Canterbury. Chaucer profiles the individuals’ personalities and their social position in his work. Chaucer explores a wide range of personalities in The Monk and the Parson. The Monk is selfish, while the Parson cares for sick and poor people. In The Canterbury Tales, the Monk acts as if he were part of society’s aristocracy. He’s very tanned, likes to hunt, and has horses on his land (naturally).
The Monk also has a luxurious lifestyle, which is in contrast to the simple life of the Parson. The Parson is dressed plainly and he preaches to the people. The Parson helps those who are in need, while the Monk does not care for anyone but himself. The Monk and the Parson represent two different lifestyles that were popular during Geoffrey Chaucer’s time period. The Monk represents the luxurious lifestyle of the upper class, while the Parson represents the simple life of the working class.
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a portrayal of society during his time period. The Monk and the Parson are two examples of the different types of people that Chaucer writes about. The Monk is a representation of the wealthy, while the Parson is a representation of the working class. The Canterbury Tales is an important work because it provides insight into the culture and society during Geoffrey Chaucer’s time period.
The Monk was slothful and didn’t enjoy working. Monks, in general, are hardworking and ready to assist the less fortunate. The Monk also disregarded St Benedict’s monastic norms. The Rule of Saint Benet or St Maur He tended to be old and strict, but he ignored it; P 120, lines 177-178 This implies that the Monk is concerned with worldly pleasures rather than his duty as a monk. Chaucer regards the Parson to be worthless because he gives what little money he has to poor people in his community.
The Parson was also a very good man who followed the religious rules set up by the Catholic Church. The Parson is a good role model for people and Chaucer respects him. The Monk is lazy, disobedient, and does not follow the rules of the church. Chaucer believes that the Monk should not be a monk because of these reasons. The Parson is hard working, follows the rules, and helps others.
The Parson is a good example for people and Chaucer believes that he should be respected. The Monk is lazy, disobedient, and does not follow the rules of the church while the Parson is hard working, follows the rules, and helps others. The difference between these two characters shows how one should behave and the other should not. Chaucer believes that the Parson is a good role model for people to follow and the Monk is not.
The Monk represents everything that Chaucer does not believe in and shows how Chaucer thinks people should not behave. The Parson is a good example for people to follow and the Monk is not. The difference between these two characters shows how one should behave and the other should not. Chaucer believes that the Parson is a good role model for people to follow while the Monk is an example of what people should not do.
The Parson never sought credit or glory for his lifestyle choice, as he was well aware of the Bible and Christ’s ideals. He spoke to anybody who would listen, and his message focused on the teachings of the Bible. He followed biblical precepts in life and believed that a priest must be honest.
He set an excellent example for all of his sheep by not living a luxurious life while still enjoying happiness. This noble example he offered to them came from the gospel, which he had stolen. (P 129 Lines 506-507) The Parson was quiet and ready to assist someone, regardless of the weather conditions.
The Monk, on the other hand, was a man of excess. The Monk was always living in the lap of luxury and had no regard for the teachings of Christ. The Monk was more interested in earthly pleasures than heavenly ones. The contrast between these two characters is very evident and it makes for an interesting read. Chaucer does a great job of highlighting the differences between these two people and provides the reader with a deeper understanding of each character.
The Parson was very kind with what little he had. From his own resources and Easter offerings, he provided to the needy parishioners around him. He discovered a wealth in little things. This establishes yet again that he is charitable and loving. He’s a good Samaritan with a caring soul. Chaucer favours the Parson in The Canterbury Tales Prologue since he makes him a healthy, well-rounded, empathetic person. In contrast, Chaucer dislikes the Monk considerably. Chaucer displays him as disturbingly self-assured, haughty, and oblivious to others’ feelings.
The Monk is also a glutton and a drunkard. The narrator makes it clear that the Monk’s evil nature outweighs his good deeds, which Chaucer views as hypocritical. The Monk’s sins are many, while the Parson’s are simple. The difference between the two is that the Parson has a good heart, while the Monk does not. The Parson represents all that is good in humanity, while the Monk represents all that is bad. The contrast between the two characters is stark and serves to show Chaucer’s views on religion and morality.
