Chaucer’s Exchange in “The Shipman’s Tale”
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Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Shipman’s Tale” is characterized by an ambiguity of theme, which is dramatized through an intricate play of puns, double meanings, verbal complexity, and ambiguous characterization. This ambivalence is no doubt the sign of Chaucer’s encompassing understanding of human nature and of his poetic accomplishment. Being himself a product of his own time and society, nevertheless, he reflects in his poetry, here specifically in the “Shipman’s Tale,” historical and social characteristics of medieval England. His play of doubleness is not irrelevant to the idiosyncratic dual awareness of the medieval mindset. His ambivalence towards values his characters act out has its counterpart in the volatile society where the age-old feudal class structure was shuffling for change. And these uncertainties pervade the Tale especially with the complex word play and characterization. Thus, this paper argues that the Tale’s ambiguity of theme is a reflection of Chaucer’s time; that it is historically specific and socially determined. Furthermore, Chaucer, with his quick wit and understanding, captures distinctive marks of the emerging merchant class and dramatizes the new system of commerce where value exists only as exchange value, although he carefully abstains from explicitly either condemning or condoning the changing milieu.
Abstract
Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Shipman’s Tale” is characterized by an ambiguity of theme, which is dramatized through an intricate play of puns, double meanings, verbal complexity, and ambiguous characterization. This ambivalence is no doubt the sign of Chaucer’s encompassing understanding of human nature and of his poetic accomplishment. Being himself a product of his own time and society, nevertheless, he reflects in his poetry, here specifically in the “Shipman’s Tale,” historical and social characteristics of medieval England. His play of doubleness is not irrelevant to the idiosyncratic dual awareness of the medieval mindset. His ambivalence towards values his characters act out has its counterpart in the volatile society where the age-old feudal class structure was shuffling for change. And these uncertainties pervade the Tale especially with the complex word play and characterization. Thus, this paper argues that the Tale’s ambiguity of theme is a reflection of Chaucer’s time; that it is historically specific and socially determined. Furthermore, Chaucer, with his quick wit and understanding, captures distinctive marks of the emerging merchant class and dramatizes the new system of commerce where value exists only as exchange value, although he carefully abstains from explicitly either condemning or condoning the changing milieu.
참고문헌 (16)
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