How effective do you consider Chaucer's digression, praising marriage, to be?

Although delaying the Merchant's tale, the digression adds humour and anticipation for the tale of the Merchant; while positioning us for interpretation of the tale. It is also a rebuttal of what has come before. At the beginning of 'The Merchant's Tale', Chaucer deviates from the story in order to praise marriage and to raise the question of the purpose of marriage. This could be interpreted as Chaucer's personal opinions of marriage or it may …

…view of marriage; the ideal view of marriage. This digression acts to validate the Merchant's view of marriage in that it shows that experts like Theophrastus agree with his point of view, yet the audience are left feeling that the Merchant's account of marriage is fairly exaggerated. Chaucer's digression from the tale allows the audience to question their own opinions on the issue of marriage and further discuss the benefits and the disadvantages of marriage.