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Pride Versus Love Essay Research Paper All

Pride Versus Love Essay, Research Paper


All Things Are Subject to Love:


Pride Versus Love


In the description of the Prioress found in the prologue of The Canterbury


Tales, Chaucer depicts this woman as one who would appear to on-lookers as


being mannerly, becoming, and pleasant. The phrase where Chaucer wrote “She


was a great delight, and always tried, To imitate court ways, and had her


pride” would indicate that not only did the Prioress place a great deal of


importance on her outward appearance but that she also took pride in it as


well. (1, 1174) This might lead the reader to consider that Chaucer is


creating a possibility within the prologue that the Prioress might practice


her religion in a hypocritical fashion. The tale of the Prioress begins


with her praying in such an outlandish manner that it also leaves the


indication of being for show rather than for true devoted worship and praise


directed to God. (2, 186-187)


From the inscription “All things are subject to love” found upon her brooch


to her sympathetic feelings concerning the lowliest of creatures, Chaucer


defines the Prioress inwardly as one who based the true measure of


Christianity upon love and good deeds done to others in need. (1, 1175) An


emphasis is made in the prologue concerning the fact that the Prioress is


only mentioned to hold tender, compassionate feelings for defenseless


creatures. “As for charity and tender feelings, She melted at whatever was


piteous.” Therefore, it could be concluded that while the Prioress is


concerned with helpless creatures, she has little or no concern for those in


society who would be her equals. (Chaucer 1, 1174) However, it is possible


that by her actions and words the Prioress is still trying to display her


great compassion towards those lower than her and thus is doing it for


self-glory and satisfaction. Chaucer in some ways leaves the reader to make


the final judgment concerning the intent of the Prioress. Throughout his


description and the tale it can be inferred that Chaucer felt it was


important for one who professed Christianity to not only worship in deed but


also in heart as well.


Despite any possible dispute about whether or not the Prioress is inspired


to good deeds out of pride or out of pure intent of the heart, the story she


tells reinstates the concept of “All things are subject to love” and the


idea that she is sympathetic to lowly creatures. Chaucer begins by using a


child who lives with only his widow mother and attends a nearby Catholic


school as the main character. Like the animals the Prioress feels pity for


in the prologue, this boy also probably would be considered a “lowly


creature.” In the prologue Chaucer wrote ” She would weep if she but came


upon a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead and bleeding.” (1, 1174)


This scenario is used somewhat as a story line for the tale because the boy


is used as the sympathetic character who dies unjustly. This poor boy was


very devoted to his faith and always eager to learn more about God so that


he could worship him better. However, he was persecuted and eventually


killed by some Jews who hated him for his religion because they considered


it to be in opposition to the Jewish religion. In some ways Chaucer


presented forth a concept that even though the Jews felt in their hearts


that they were religious and “in tune” with God, they had no happiness and


no true qualities that would indicate a real relationship with their Maker.


On the other hand, the boy was very humble in every way, truly sought to


worship his God and found happiness in praising God with a devoted heart and


voice in life and in death.


It is obvious throughout the descriptions of the various characters as well


as the tales found within The Canterbury Tales that Chaucer wants to show


how individuals involved in the church were often overcome by the appearance


of religion rather than the existence of true religious devotion. From a


“glance”, the Prioress is shown to be quite perfected in all her ways and as


a result prideful as well. At closer inspection, however, the Prioress is


given deeper qualities through her compassion for lowly creatures. It is


possible that through this compassion and feeling that she lives her life


according to the inscription “All things are subject to love.” Still, it is


unclear to determine exactly whether or not the compassion she shows is out


of pride to “show out for others” or if it indeed is inspired solely by


love.



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