The Canterbury Tales: The Humanity of The Wife of Bath and The Pardoner

Chaucer's Wife of Bath and his Pardoner are by far the most analysed, critiqued and admired of all his characters. Even for the Miller, for his ridiculous and entertaining tale, is there not as much discussion and general literary contributions, than for these two characters. And that is exactly why - they are characters. One of the reasons as to why Chaucer has survived and been appreciated all these many years, is the fact that …

…his literary characters, is made more dramatic by the fact that these are the only two characters that have their own words to say. They are not only relating a story, they are talking about themselves and their lives. It creates a break from the monotony of the telling of stories, creates a realistic impression of the inn in which they are all lodged, and lets the critiques, centuries later, discuss and analyse these characters.