#chaucer

So first off, there's this foot stool:

I was told it was A Character from the Canterbury Tales that my grandmother needlepointed. Which, neat I'll like that,so I put it in the "For Emily" pile.

In between here, someone else put the Work Box in my pile as well.

Weeks later (aka today) I'm poking around in the sewing closet (this house has so much stuff impressively crammed in crevices). I see a box. I have learned at this point that my Grams kept the coolest shit in boxes and I should definitely open the box. I pull out the box and I find this:

Fully drawn out and colored needle point canvases for more Chaucer characters in PRISTINE condition. But crucially, not started. Complete with the sizing up drawings. This tells me there are original small drafts somewhere. I also learn that my Great Grandfather REALLY liked Chaucer and was a good artist.

The coolness of the stool is Starting to Come into Perspective.

I bring the box and canvases home with me. OBVIOUSLY. And the rest of the Me Pile too.

I get home and start opening the hat box, only to find this:

So I have the original letter, the original draft art from my great gramps, the intermediate draft art also done by him, the canvases and a single finished piece by my grandmother.

4 generations in one project now including me.

Chaucer was by no means championing for Jewish equality and obviously the original tale is antisemitic, but the intention of the Prioress' Tale is to:

1 - Mock the Prioress' uncreative and uninspired preaching, of which there is no moral other than "Christianity good, Judaism bad". Context from the General Prologue: the Prioress is implied to be from nobility, so the shittyness of her tale implies that her nobility is the only reason she became a Prioress. (The other hypocritical religious figures are at least pretty good at storytelling: ie the Pardoner's creative storytelling shows us how he became a successful Pardoner).

2 - Mock the Prioress' extreme bloodthirst towards Jews. The original stories have themes of redemption and forgiveness, which are pretty common Christian tropes, and the Prioress bulldozes over that by stressing about "the law!" and "revenge!". Context from the general prologue: The Prioress is described as being incredibly sympathetic and kind towards animals in a way that comes across as irritating. All the religious beliefs she should have as the head of a nunnery and her kindness towards the animals completely dissolve away the moment Jews get involved.

3 - Imply the Prioress has never dealt with real suffering. The way she alters the little boy in her retelling to be more innocent and victimly comes across as fetishising suffering. Also, notice how the General Prologue specifies she has a kind heart to animals, and feeds animals white bread and says nothing of her actions towards animals.