canterbury tales (reeve character analysis)

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer’s descriptive technique used to present the Reeve emphasized his physical characteristics as well as the success he attained in his occupation. It is evident that Chaucer gives two different perceptions of the Reeve, one perception is of his physical makeup and the other is of his success achieved in his occupation. In Chaucer’s introduction of the Reeve, he immediately begins with the Reeve’s physical makeup, as shown …

…with the fact that the Reeve was given a name suggests that the Reeve tends to be more of a specific individual than a general presentation of a class or type of person. He also was prosperous in his occupation of superintendent of his master’s estate, and even though he was respected and acknowledged for his accomplishments and wealth, he did not have the high social status because of his lack of land ownership.