Today we ended discussion with Dr . Comber asking us to further elaborate on the contradictions The Prioress's Tale offers readers in today's world and in the Middle Ages. Emma further explained to me quickly after class (sorry if I steal what you were going to write about Emma) that by contradictions with the Christian faith that become prevalent in this excerpt, its how this idea that Jews were horrible persecutors of Christians (monsters really, like Dr. Comber's PP pointed out) that murdered innocent Christians, that likewise, like we have seen throughout history today, Christians have just as equally been monstrous in their acts against Jews (Holocaust). In fact, I personally am going to say that if we replace the roles of the characters from the Jews and their ideas being put into the slots of the Christians in The Prioress's Tale I'll bet there was this actual scenario that happened probably quite a few times somewhere in Western Europe, specifically in the first half of the 20th century. Now I understand that there is no way that Chaucer was referring to it, but for analyzing this story right now I think it's fairly interesting how interchangeable the roles of Christians and Jews could be and were, specifically during the Holocaust.
One other thing we pointed out in class that I'm not sure we fully discussed, is the fact that in the Prioress's prologue she is depicted as this prim and proper lady who cries if she sees a mouse in a mouse trap, but her story is so not ladylike or more of a story that would better fit someone that is not her. I can't really put it together to make sense in my head right now, but I just feel like maybe Chaucer is trying to say something by making this woman seem so delicate, but then give her a story to tell like this. I feel like it may be able to go along with the fact that he describes her more womanlike than a nun and the fact that this was her story to tell may just emphasize Chaucer's desire to lead her portrayal away from that of a proper nun. Along with taking a few cuts at the prioress herself and well, obviously the Jews, he also takes a few cuts in at monks to, specifically the abbot I believe, its very subtle but I'm pretty sure I remember him saying something about monks and their duties or how they act and then he corrects himself and specifically says how they should act. This just further reiterates the message of disapproval that Chaucer has for most of the characters and the roles they played in his society.
I think that the story is one that fits a nun, specially since the story is one giant pray centered around christ and his mother, basically what they believed was a retelling, so for her to tell this story further puts her into the nun category. Yes it does have the christians killing but in that time with the crusades and all it was not a hidden thing, so christians killing for religion then not only did they believe it to be right but it was common.
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