The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales - List of characters (31+1)

The Prologue:

Introduces the framework of The Canterbury Tales, setting the stage for a storytelling contest among pilgrims traveling from the Tabard Inn in South Wark to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.

Setting: Spring (April), symbolizing renewal, with pilgrims gathering at the Tabard Inn.

Narrative Style: 

 Told from the first-person narration by Chaucer the Pilgrim, who presents himself as an observer.

 Written in iambic pentameter and heroic couplets** (rhyming pairs of lines).

Combines vivid character portraits with social satire and irony.

Structure: 

Opens with a description of spring and the pilgrimage motive.

Introduces 29 pilgrims (plus the narrator and Host, making 31 characters).

Each pilgrim is described with physical, social, and moral traits, reflecting medieval society’s estates (clergy, nobility, commoners).

The Host proposes a storytelling contest: each pilgrim tells two tales on the way to Canterbury and two on the return (total 120 tales planned, but only 24 completed).

Themes:

Social hierarchy and its critique (e.g., corruption in the clergy, class tensions).

Human nature, morality, and diversity of medieval life.

Pilgrimage as a metaphor for life’s journey

The 31 Characters 

The General Prologue

1. Knight: Noble, chivalric figure of the military estate.

Traits: Honorable, modest, experienced in battles (e.g., Crusades), wears simple tunic.

Satire: Idealized, a model of chivalry, though his simplicity contrasts with his status.

2. Squire: Knight’s son, a young lover and aspiring knight.

Traits: Curly-haired, fashionable, skilled in music and poetry, lovesick.

Satire: Romantic and youthful, mildly mocked for his flamboyance.

3. Yeoman: Knight’s servant, a forester.

Traits: Wears green, skilled archer, carries bow and arrows, devout to St. Christopher.

Satire: Loyal and competent, no overt criticism.

4. Prioress (Madame Eglantine): Head of a nunnery, clergy estate.

Traits: Elegant, sentimental, speaks French poorly, loves her dogs, wears a coral rosary with “Amor vincit omnia” (Love conquers all).

Satire: Mocked for her worldly vanity and affected refinement, unbefitting a nun.

5. Second Nun: Companion to the Prioress, clergy.

Traits: Minimal description, likely a nun under the Prioress’s authority.

Satire: Neutral, overshadowed by the Prioress.

6. Nun’s Priest: Priest accompanying the Prioress, clergy

 Satire: Neutral, defined by his tale rather than his description.

7. Monk: Clergy, a monastic figure.

Traits: Loves hunting, owns greyhounds, wears fur-lined robes, ignores monastic rules of austerity.

Satire: Criticized for his worldly pleasures and disregard for a typical monk's discipline.

8. Friar (Huberd): Mendicant friar, clergy.

Traits: Charismatic, corrupt, sells indulgences, seduces women, arranges marriages for profit.

Satire: Heavily satirized for hypocrisy and exploiting his religious position.

9. Merchant: Middle-class trader, commoner estate.

Traits: Wears a forked beard, boasts of profits, possibly in debt.

Satire: Mocked for his pretentiousness and financial insecurity.

10. Clerk: Oxford scholar, clergy-adjacent.

Traits: Thin, poor, loves books, spends money on learning, speaks little but wisely.

Satire: Idealized as a true scholar, minimal criticism.

11. Sergeant of the Law (Man of Law): Lawyer, judiciary estate.

Traits: Wise, respected, wealthy, owns many properties, skilled in legal documents.

Satire: Praised but subtly mocked for his self-important air.

12. Franklin: Wealthy landowner, commoner estate.

Traits: White beard, loves food and wine, hosts lavish feasts, lives for pleasure.

Satire: Criticized for hedonism but portrayed as generous.

13. Haberdasher: Guildsman, maker of hats, commoner.

Traits: Wealthy, carries a knife, part of a group with fine clothing.

Satire: Neutral, part of the guild group’s collective pride.

14. Carpenter: Guildsman, commoner.

Traits: Similar to Haberdasher, part of the guild group, well-dressed.

Satire: Neutral, minimal individual focus.

15. Weaver: Guildsman, commoner.

Traits: Part of the guild group, wealthy and ostentatious.

Satire: Neutral, critiqued as part of the group’s showiness.

16. Dyer: Guildsman, commoner.

 Traits: Like other guildsmen, displays wealth through clothing.

Satire: Neutral, part of the collective guild portrait.

17. Tapicer (Tapestry-Maker): Guildsman, commoner.

Traits: Wealthy, part of the guild group, carries a knife.

Satire: Neutral, critiqued for guild pride.

18. Cook: Guildsman’s cook, commoner.

Traits: Skilled in cooking, has an ulcer on his knee, possibly unhygienic.

Satire: Mocked for his questionable hygiene despite culinary skill.

19. Shipman (Sailor): Seafarer, commoner.

Traits: Tanned, rough, skilled navigator, steals wine, drowns enemies.

Satire: Criticized for his piracy and lack of morals.

20. Physician (Doctor of Physic): Medical professional, clergy-adjacent.

Traits: Wealthy, loves gold, knowledgeable in astronomy and medicine, colludes with apothecaries.

Satire: Satirized for greed and questionable ethics.

21. Wife of Bath: Independent woman, commoner.

Traits: Widowed five times, bold, wears red stockings, skilled weaver, seeks control in marriage.

Satire: Proto-feminist but mocked for her assertive sexuality and worldliness.

22. Parson: Parish priest, clergy.

Traits: Poor, devout, lives by example, teaches and helps his flock.

Satire: Idealized, a model of true Christian virtue.

23. Plowman: Parson’s brother, peasant laborer, commoner.

Traits: Honest, hardworking, devout, helps others without reward.

Satire: Idealized, represents the ideal peasant.

24. Miller: Grain miller, commoner.

Traits: Stout, red-bearded, cheats customers, tells bawdy tales.

Satire: Satirized for dishonesty and crude behavior.

25. Manciple: Steward for a law school, commoner.

Traits: Shrewd, outsmarts educated lawyers, frugal but cunning.

Satire: Praised for cleverness but subtly criticized for dishonesty.

26. Reeve: Estate manager, commoner.

 Traits: Thin, cunning, steals from his lord, feared by workers.

Satire: Criticized for corruption and manipulative nature.

27. Summoner: Church court officer, clergy.

Traits: Red-faced, pimpled, corrupt, accepts bribes, loves garlic and onions.

Satire: Heavily satirized for hypocrisy and immoral behavior.

28. Pardoner: Seller of indulgences, clergy.

Traits: Long blonde hair, possibly effeminate, sells fake relics, preaches for profit.

Satire: Strongest satire, embodies Church corruption.

29. Canterbury Tales Narrator (Chaucer the Pilgrim): Observer and participant, narrator

Traits: Humble, claims to report what he sees, slightly naive.

Satire: Self-deprecating, possibly ironic in his simplicity.

30. Host (Harry Bailly): Innkeeper of the Tabard Inn, organizes the storytelling contest.

 Traits: Jovial, authoritative, proposes the tale-telling game.

Satire: Neutral, a practical leader but not a pilgrim.

31. Canon’s Yeoman: Latecomer, servant to a Canon (alchemist), commoner.

Traits: Joins mid-journey, reveals his master’s fraudulent alchemy.

Satire: Exposes alchemy’s deceit, not heavily satirized himself.

32. Canon, the Alchemist (not included in the prologue, appears in the text)

31 characters

 29 pilgrims from the General Prologue + the Host + the Canon's Yeoman (excluding the Canon, who leaves)

32 characters

29 pilgrims + the Host + the Canon + the Canon's Yeoman