The Miller's Tale
Summary
- The Miller, drunk, insists on telling his story after the Knight.
- He warns that those "easily offended should skip to another tale"
- The tale is about a carpenter, his wife, and the two men who fancy her
- Alison and Nicholas engage in an affair, and plan to have a rendezvous
- Another man, Absalon, also is interested in Alison
- Nicholas tricks John by convincing him to sleep in a tub hung from the ceiling
- Nicholas and Alison sleep together, and Absolon visits later that night. An interesting conflict ensues
Characters
- John— Carpenter who is kind, but a bit thick
- Alison— John's very young and adventurous wife
- Nicholas— an Oxford scholar living in John and Alison's house
- Absalon— a fellow suitor of Alison
Analysis
- Religious Commentary
- Use of scripture
- Reference to Richard II
His Almagest and books both great and small,/ An astrolabe for plotting outer space,/ And counters used in math were all in place/ On shelves between the headposts of his bed (3210)
- Motifs in European literature
- "misplaced kiss"
- "second flood"
Analysis
He jealously
Kept her as if inside a cage, for she
Was one both young and wild, and he had fears
Of being a cuckold, so advanced in years.
Not educated, he had never read
Cato: one like himself a man should wed,
He ought to marry mindful of his state,
For youth and age are often of debate. (3225)
Characterization
- John: Carpenter, socially higher than Nicholas, yet much less intelligent
- Absalon: Used to mock the romances of the age
- Alison: Satirizes Chaucer's perception of women of the time
Bonus!
The Miller's Tale
By David Nunamaker
