In 1809, the English poet and artist William Blake made the following observation: "Chaucer's pilgrims are the characters which compose all ages and nations...Some of the names or titles are altered by time, but the characters themselves forever remain unaltered."
Do you agree or disagree that Chaucer's characters seem timeless and universal? Support your opinion with the text and your own experience.
I disagree that Chaucer's characters seem timeless and universal, because depending on the time that the tales were written and the time that they are read, they have different meanings and we understand them differently. For example, the Nun that was introduced on page 144, is very glamorous and extremely clean, almost "plastic" and fake. When the tales were written, this was maybe considered okay and fine, but in today's society a Nun is supposed to be modest and caring. In universal terms, this example may also be viewed as wrong in some country's while, perfectly okay in others.
ReplyDeleteMelissa period 2
I agree with william Blake. Names will change over time as different versions are told or read. But the truth is, these characters are a part of history themselves. If you change the characters personalities today, then they obviously wont be who they are in the canterbury tales. This being said they wouldn't be recognized universally as they are in their historical forms.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Chaucer's characters do seem timeless and universal since compared to know and back then everything is seen in two different points of views. Although it was written back then in the best intentions every opinion rapidly changes through the years making it harder come to the same conclusion as reading about a character. Such as when reading about the characters if they were placed in our time now, they would somewhat differ to the way that we would of have imaged them to be like.
ReplyDeleteI agree because these titles that were given to the characters is something universal like doctor, women, nun. Till this day we hear and categorize people under these names but they have also evolved with time. Although some of the names have changed with time the characteristics that were given to these characters do portray how some of us are in our lives. Some of us are arrogant, some of us are two-faced and some of us are actually nice and want to help others. For instance you can see doctors that are really good with their practice and healing patients but it doesn't come from the heart, they do it just for the money.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Chaucer's characters seem timeless and universal. The era in which the Canterbury Tales were written had different views of how members of society should be and act. For example, members of the church were supposed to be modest and not be charismatic, which is why Chaucer criticized the Nun Prioress. In their opinion, she did not value the traditions of the church nor act upon them. However, nowadays, we understand that members of church can be pretty, nice, smart, charismatic, sociable, etc. How they act has no effect on their beliefs and traditions.
ReplyDeleteI honestly agree with chaucers statement of the characters being seen timeless and universal because back then they had nuns" doctors"merchants" people with professions. of course there's not going to be the same exact person as the one that we may seem today because everyone's different. but it holds the same meaning and moral. yes it is true that Chaucer described the nun as too elegant but thats only his perspective maybe other people didt really see her like that and to be honest theirs nothing bad with that. nowadays we cant say all nuns are ugly nor elegant however thats not the point the point is that overall nuns are sweet nice and holy and thats the same way nuns this time are. another example are doctors true some doctors love what they do and other simply enjoy the money they get in return but they both do the same thing which is cure.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree that Chaucer's characters seem timeless and universal. He just has is own opinion and his own way of looking and doing stuff. The time in which the Canterbury Tales were written was a different period from now they had different opinions of how the people of the society should be or act. Members of the church were know to be calm and not very attractive, which is why Chaucer criticized the Nun Prioress. To him she did not value the traditions of the church. But for us now and days members of church can be pretty, nice, smart, sociable, etc. How they act surely has no effect on their beliefs and traditions. It also depends on the reader because yes, it was a different time period but along with that there are different people who are reading the story so some may see it in a different perspective. Also like the Doctor in the story it says how he had a special love for money. Maybe back then it was normal for some one to want lots of money. As it is now people still wish to have loads of money but because of the time period we are in now if you were to say to someone you had a special love for money they might begin to come under the impression that you are a gold digger. People now and days are judged by who they are on the outside. Like the old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" well people definitely do that and to an extent it is also done in the story.
ReplyDelete~Susan Serpa
I disagree with Chaucer's characters be timeless and universal. I see that as his own opinion and like everyone I have mines. In pg.144 the Nun is being introduced and she's described to wear lots of beads. I ask how is it possible for a Nun to have this type of style. In this time she would be seen as a Nun because they're modest ladies that all they do is help in the church and for tge most part to cover every part of their body except the face. This shows that the characters aren't timeless and universal. What might have been right back then may not be in our time.
ReplyDeletecontinued from my post above.....
ReplyDeleteSuch as being said that according to the text the prioress is written as a women that was great taste, dresses well, has compassion and is charitable.although this is true it also shows that there is a different for the fact that yes they are somewhat the same as to compared to back then but they are now seen in other ways not in what language they speak, or their exquisite taste in clothes but by how they are and their actions.
I disagree that Chaucer's chsracters seem timeless and universal because for example the description of the Nun Prioress shows us that she was all clean with a lot of manners and always wearing a lot of beads(pg.144). In Chaucer's time this behavior could have be seen normal but in our time things are very different. I also thing that everything depends on the reader's perspective because each person might see the characters actions from a different point of view they might think they right or wrong, what was accepted in that time might not be accepted in ours.
ReplyDeletei disagree that Chaucer's characters seem timeless and universal. these stories are being told at different times. peoples perspectives and opinions change by the day. meaning every time these stories are being read, people will most likely take it differently. the way we are living today isnt the same as in a couple of years back. universally i disagree even more because everyone around the world has different cultures and points of view. everyone would see these stories differently, no matter how far off in time its being read.
ReplyDeleteI think Chaucer’s characters are not timeless and universal because people changes when time passes. For example, the doctor in the Canterbury Tale likes gold although he is knowledgeable. There are some doctors in our society dedicated their lives in medical fields, and they determined to save patients lives. I remember when the WenChun earthquake hit the SiChun province in China in 2008, many doctors and nurses volunteered to help victims of earthquakes. In other words, many characters depicted by Chaucer are immoral because the society is corrupted while people in our society right now are much better. Things always change, and there are rarely thing remain the same forever.
ReplyDeleteI agree what Shelby said because things always changes and people's views also changed.
I agree what Stephanie said because we have similar point of views. Church people right now are pretty nice while church people in medieval age are corrupted.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement. I believe Chaucer’s characters are timeless and universal for various reasons. The titles that were given to these characters were given as a distinction from the other characters, as well as to portray what they do and who they are. Like my classmate mentioned, universal titles would be “doctor, women, nurse, child, etc.” Titles like those are timeless in which they have kept the same meaning for years and years to come; a child is known as a human being of young age just as it was back then. Some characters and titles have been altered throughout the years but remain with the same universal idea. In the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer mentions the doctor to be a lover of money. Today that still applies, some doctors are in their profession for the need or desire of money. Doctors nowadays may not want the money for show, but more for financial purposes, a decent lifestyle, etc. Regardless “doctors” are still perceived as they were early on, a person with high pay that helps other beings; it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are avaricious, they simply earn a great deal of money.
ReplyDeleteGenesis Merino
Period 2
I agree that Chaucer’s characters are timeless and universal. There will always be a corrupt monk and a money minded doctor. Obviously the characters won’t be the exact same but the idea is. For example, the squire was not at all honorable, he used his father’s ranks to get girls. In our modern world there are so many people who use their parents’ fame for their own good. We still see so many doctors who have successful and good practices but they just do their job for the money and not from the goodness in their heart just like the doctor from the story.
DeleteOf course the knight is also timeless. There will always be a chivalrous man fighting bravely for the good of mankind.