Chaucers Canterbury Tales - The Character of the Parson Essay

The Character of the Parson of Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer is considered by gentlemany critics as the father of English literature. His literary masterpiece was The Canterbury Tales. In these tales, Chaucer writes about pilgrims who be on a journey to Canterbury. Each pilgrim has a tale that they describe on this journey. Chaucer expresses themes and messages through the characterization of each pilgrim. Through the Parson, one of the pilgrims, Chaucer is commensurate to portray the life of a true Christian through the prevalent prologue, prologue to the Parsons tale, and the Parsons tale itself. In the general prologue, Chaucer introduces the reader to the Parson. He is a divine-minded man of good renown (475). The reader soon gets to know him as a devout, educated, altruistic, caring, gentle, humble, giving, and brotherly man through the general descriptions of who the Parson is and what he does. The rector is benign and diligent (481) as well as being holy and vi rtuous (511). Chaucer portrays this pious Christian through his reverent and venerable t...