What are some of the primary features of Chaucer's characterization in The Canterbury Tales?

In
, Chaucer characterizes each of the pilgrims using a similar
structure.

1. Apparel--Chaucer's description of
each pilgrim in The often begins with notes about the character's
clothing. When introducing the Merchant, Chaucer notes that he has

"Upon his head a Flemish beaver hat; / His boots were fastened rather elegantly. .
." ("The Merchant," 3-4).

These notations
about the characters' clothing allow the reader to determine early on which social class the
character represents (or hopes to represents) and his or her priorities.

2.
Physical Features--At times, Chaucer includes his description of
the character's physical features with his or her clothing. For some of the pilgrims, the poet
relies upon Medieval superstitions regarding bodily fluids (The Humours) to illuminate a
pilgrim's vices. When describing the Cook, the author mixes phrases about his dishes with an
image of his sore. The narrator confesses,

"But very
ill it was, it seemed to me, / That on his shin a deadly href="https://www.owleyes.org/text/canterbury-tales/read/when-april-with">sore
had he . . ." ("The Cook," 7-8).

By
choosing to give the characters often grotesque or unwanted physical features, Chaucer is able
to illuminate quickly and effectively the character's moral nature.

3.
Juxtaposition--The poet also uses juxtaposition to demonstrate the
hypocrisy found in people from each Medieval social class. The "clerical" characters,
such as the prioress and the monk, should be devoted to charity, and yet the prioress relishes
fine food and clothing, and the monk--who should have taken a vow of poverty, spares no expense
when purchasing horses and greyhounds for hunting ("The Monk," 26-28). Chaucer's
choice to position comments about the characters' profession right before snide remarks about
their vices enhances hisof those pilgrims.

Throughout The
Prologue, Chaucer is an equal opportunity critic. He includes problematic pilgrims
from the noble, merchant, and church "estates" and spares practically no occupation
from his satire.