Geoffrey Chaucer as a Realist

 Literature creates a world of its own, which goes parallel with the real world. Chaucer is
essentially a realist. He was the first English poet who revealed the truth about life as he
saw it. Before him, the writers were dreaming dreams and weaving stories. However,
Chaucer kept away from such artifices. He has taken the basic ideas of his characters
from the real world and presented them clothed in imagination. Chaucer could have
claimed like Fielding that he gave the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Chaucer mixed the general qualities of his characters with their individualistic, peculiar
responses and reactions. He tells us what a character really is, what he could be and
what he actually performs.
According to Chaucer Knight is the noblest of the pilgrims. He has great military skills.
He is loyal to his profession. He gives great importance to honor, generosity, and good
manners. The Knight conducts himself in a polite and mild fashion, never saying an
unkind word about anyone. He represents the whole class.
Moreover, the Knight’s son, who is about twenty years old, acts as his father’s squire, or
trainee. Though the Squire has fought in battles with great strength and agility, like his
father, he is also devoted to love. His talents are those of the courtly lover—singing,
playing the flute, drawing, writing, and riding—and he loves so passionately that he gets
little sleep at night.
The poet describes the portrait of Prioress, named Madame Eglentyne in a very realistic
manner. She takes great care to eat her food daintily, to reach for food on the table
delicately, and to wipe her lip clean of grease before drinking from her cup. She speaks
French, but with English accent. She is compassionate toward animals, weeping when
she sees a mouse caught in a trap, and feeding her dogs roasted meat and milk.

“She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,

Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe,
Wel koude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe
That no drope no fille upon hir brest.”

The Monk has been described handsome, who loves hunting and keeps many horses.
He is aware that the rule of his monastic order discourages monks from engaging in
activities like hunting, but he dismisses such strictures as worthless.

The character of Friaris has also been realistically depicted by Chaucer. He is a

member of a religious order who lives entirely by begging. This friar is cheerful,
pleasure-loving, well-spoken, and socially agreeable.

Chaucer’s depiction of the Shipman represents the salient features of the trade. The Merchant is
another important figure who signifies the changed conditions of Chaucerian society.
Chaucer’s description of each of his characters is so natural, so vivid and so
realistic that we can very correctly know the profession of each of his
characters. Chaucer’s characters are immersed in the affairs of daily life. The
information given by Chaucer very clearly shows that all the characters are
deeply interested in life. Every character is the best representative of his
class. The fact that these characters have been taken from the real life and
have interest in life make them appear as natural human beings with all their
faults, foibles and peculiarities.