The conditions of nun in The Canterbury Tales?

Answer 1

The nun was one of the company of the journey to Canterbury. She is also known as the prioress. She was profiled as a very beautiful woman by the narrator but also very worldly meaning that she had many desires that were material. This is somewhat ironic seeing as how a nun is supposed to live by a strict order that does not allow these sorts of desires of food and love and etiquette. Despite this the nun still desperately attempts to act courtly and through her dress and manners and by doing so is being a bad nun but still an appealing person in the eyes of the narrator.

Answer 2

In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, "The Prioress's Tale" is about a young Christian boy who is murdered by local Jews for singing the Alma Redemptoris aloud in public; his throat is slit and he is thrown into a cesspool.

When the local provost discover this crime, it is ordained that any Jew who were even aware that this crime occurred were to be drawn by horses and hanged.

When the young boy's mother goes out to search for him, no one in the community reveals what horrible deed had been done to her child. In the midst of her desperate search, a loud and clear voice begins to sing the Alma Redemptoris and all of the Christian citizens of the community rush out to find the source of music.

Shockingly, it is the young boy that is singing and he continues to sing throughout his own funeral service. When the abbot asks how he is able to sing, the young boy replies that despite having "[his] throat cut unto the spinal bone," he is still able to sing because in his last moments of life, the Virgin Mary appeared and placed a precious pearl upon his tongue.

The abbot then removes this pearl from the young boy's tongue and he peacefully passes away.

The tale praises Christ, The Virgin Mary, and the miracles in which faith in Christ can bring. It is clear that the tale contains heavy anti-semitism and the Prioress herself is guilty of wrath by explicitly implying that the Jews deserved such punishment.

Such examples of her anti-semitism is shown in the text:

"Our primal foe, the serpent Sathanas, who has in Jewish heart his hornets' nest..."

"Evil shall have what evil does deserve"

"By cursed Jews, as is well known to all..."

Though the tale was one of love for the Holy Lord and the Holy Mother, the Prioress herself was guilty of sinning; the tale is one of wrath and sin disguised by a miracle.

The tale is meant to reflect the nonfictional story of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln, who was supposedly slain by Jews in 1255.

Answer 3

The Prioress or First Nun is described in a positive way. She is dainty of manners, quiet and reserves. She speaks French, though not the same French that is spoken at Court. She is kind and compassionate and strives to show her good taste and refinement. No description is provided of the second nun.

Answer 4

The Prioress in Canterbury Tales was named Madam Eglantyne, sang nasally, spoke French poorly, had respectable table manners, was sensitive (cried if her small dogs died), wore jewelry, had a high forehead (which was considered a beautiful trait in that era), and wore a brooch which said "Amor vincit omnia." The description given in The Canterbury Tales' Prologue depicted her to be contradictory of what was expected of a nun/prioress. Later on in The Prioress' Tale, the reader is shown that the Prioress herself is guilty of the sin of Wrath although she is supposed to be a woman of God, and therefore all-loving and all-merciful.

Answer 5

In "The Canterbury Tales," the Prioress is portrayed as extremely concerned with etiquette and manners, displaying characteristics of sophistication and elegance. However, she also exhibits a sense of moral ambiguity, as seen in her preference for her pets over the well-being of others. Overall, Chaucer's depiction of the Prioress can be interpreted as a commentary on the corrupt nature of certain members of the clergy in medieval society.