Elements of the Grotesque in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Prioress’s Tale
Elements of the Grotesque in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Prioress’s Tale

Summary/Abstract: This essay examines unusual aspects of The Prioress’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer and makes the case that the story’s moral protagonist releases a vicious anti-Semitic tale in the guise of Christian devotion. The essay explores the Prioress’s depiction in The General Prologue, highlighting the contradiction between her seeming compliance and underlying problems by drawing on the theories of John Ruskin. Ruskin’s theory of the grotesque acts as a mirror through which one can view the anxieties and biases that society has ingrained in her story. The essay also looks at Chaucer’s use of premonition, using The Prioress’s as a cautionary tale and advising readers to look past outward appearances. It talks about anti-Semitic attitudes from the Middle Ages, the opinions of critics, and the story’s applicability to modern culture. Ultimately, it highlights Chaucer’s continuing critique of society and the Prioress’s position as a problematic figure in The Canterbury Tales through a comparative analysis of prejudices in the mediaeval and contemporary times.

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