The Slacker's Tale

“As much as I am blesses with wits and mon’,
I am by far the least favourite son.
Just because I lack the inspiration,
And avoid the slightest transpiration,
It does not mean that I am doing wrong,
You’re just jealous I enjoy all day long.
I wear the same outfit for three days straight,
And after a meal I won’t wash my plate.
I rarely shower, but what do you care?
It’s my own body; it’s part of my flair.
I’m a pro, videogames are my career,
I’ve got the skills and I’ve got the gear.
I’m no weight-lifter but I eat well,
And by “well” I mean plenty, I’m a spell
Come get me ladies, got room for more babes,
I enchant them with my looks and my grace,
…And my photo-shopped picture on Myspace”

The Black Widow's Act

As the Wife of Bath told her story, two word came to mind: black widow. The image the character of the Wife tries to give, is that of an independent, powerful and strong-minded woman but all I see is a greedy, manipulative and emotionally anesthetized hag. She obviously doesn't marry for emotional purposes (although so far into the book no marriage has been for the right reasons) but for money, self-assurance and control.

She brags about her rebelliousness regarding her virginity, that even though everybody else seems to think of it is a crucial matter, she doesn't give it any importance. The woman was definitely ahead of her time.

And for all men who complain that women are complicated I found it surprising how wise and eloquent the Wife is at summing it up for you fools: "We women have, if I shall not lie, in this matter a curious fantasy: note that whatever thing we may not easily have, we will cry all day and crave for it." (515-519). Amen.

I honestly don't know what to think of her, I believe she's a bluffer but at the same time she does demonstrate that her life experiences have brought her a lot of wisdom. Reading back on this blog I realized I was all over the place and didn't really establish an argument... which I usually do. But not this time.

Yo Miller

The contrast between the Knight's Tale and the Miller's Tale is an awful lot like the contrast you could pull from a love song and a rap song. The love song is much more poetic, it's an effort to make the target of the song know the author's feeling towards them to then be inspired to return them. On the other hand, the rap song's lyrics are more crude, and in a way more honest, they have an entirely different taste in compliments and the object is to brag rather than to charm.

Love song:"And I wonder when I sing along with you if everything could ever feel this real forever, if anything could ever be this good again" (Everlong- Foo Fighters)

Rap song:"Let me see your ***** baby pull that shirt up, lift that skirt up got ****** like a burger" (143-Bobby Brackins)

Knight's Tale: "That Emelye, who was fairer to be seen than is the lily upon its green stalk" (1035-1036)

Miller's Tale: "And thus lie Alison and Nicholas, In business of mirth and of pleasure"(3653-3654)

Bearded Beauty

I know it has been pointed out more than once how the perception of beauty has changed over the years, but I think it has been mostly applied to women. In this poem I
found a very detailed description of Palamon as he comes back with his army of men: "Black was his beard, and manly was his face"(2130), and is met by Arcite:
"His curly hair like rings was run (fashioned)"(2165).
This caught my attention since I would never consider a man handsome if he had a long beard and long, curly hair... quite the opposite, I'd probably think he looked like a hobo. The Knight's Tale is supposed to be about heroes, about handsome men fighting bravely to keep the damsel, I can only guess that back when it was written this was their version of the Twilight Saga (which is personally loathe).
If they were to make this appealing for the modern generations, Palmon and Arcite would have to shave, cut their hair, and completely change their wardrobe, not to mention they wouldn't even be battling on horses in the first place.