Character Analysis (OCR A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes
Character analysis
Understanding characters in The Merchant's Prologue and Tale is essential for your exam success. Chaucer deliberately crafted each character to represent particular ideas and social groups relevant to medieval society. These characters aren't just people in a story - they're symbolic figures designed to explore debates about marriage, power, age and morality.
When analyzing Chaucer's characters, remember they are conscious literary constructs, not real people. Every detail - from their names to their actions - serves a specific purpose in exploring the tale's themes.
How to analyse characters effectively
When examining characters in Chaucer's work, you should consider multiple aspects of their presentation:
Representation and symbolism
- Which social groups or themes does each character represent?
- How do they embody particular ideas or values?
Methods of characterisation Chaucer reveals character through various techniques:
- Actions and underlying motivations
- Speech and internal thoughts
- Interactions with other characters
- What others say and think about them
- Physical descriptions and appearance
- How they conform to or challenge stereotypes
- Their relationships with other characters
Exam tip: Always demonstrate awareness that characters are conscious constructs. Show you understand Chaucer deliberately created these characters to serve specific functions. Consider why characters are portrayed in particular ways and what significance they hold within the tale.
Main characters
The merchant
The Merchant serves as both narrator and character, representing the emerging middle class of Chaucer's time.
Social position and appearance The Merchant belongs to the new commercial class - traders and businessmen gaining wealth and status. His prosperous appearance reflects this:
- Neat, forked beard
- Bright cloak and Flemish beaver hat
- Elegantly buckled boots
- Expert in money-changing
Underlying irony Despite appearing successful, Chaucer reveals the superficiality of the Merchant's facade. The narrator notes that although the Merchant seems estimable, nobody knows he is actually in debt. This suggests a character more concerned with appearances than reality.
The contrast between the Merchant's outward prosperity and hidden financial problems mirrors the tale's broader themes of deception and the gap between appearance and reality.
Attitudes to marriage The Host's mention of marriage triggers the Merchant's bitter response. He describes his wife as so cruel she would outmatch Satan himself. Despite being married only two months, he expresses deep misery. Rather than elaborating when pressed by the Host, he chooses to tell an allegorical story instead.
The tale as reflection The Merchant's cynical worldview pervades his tale:
- Features an unfaithful young wife and blindly arrogant older husband
- Repeatedly uses the phrase "love is blynd alday, and may nat see"
- Suggests ignorance and deceit are inherent in relationships
- Reflects his own bitter experience of marriage
Januarie
Januarie functions as the tale's central male character, an elderly knight whose name immediately signals his advanced age.
Symbolic significance The name "Januarie" connects to January, the first month and depth of winter, implying he has reached the winter years of life. This symbolism operates on multiple levels:
- Literary archetype: Januarie represents the senex amans from Roman comedy - a powerful older figure with significant weaknesses
- Biblical parallel: His characterisation arguably mirrors Adam from Genesis as the first man, reinforced by his role as the oldest character who has a wife tempted in a garden
- Mythological connection: His name derives from Janus, the Roman god who carries keys to unlock the future and embodies both youth and age simultaneously
The multi-layered symbolism of Januarie's name demonstrates Chaucer's sophisticated literary technique. The January/winter imagery contrasts sharply with May's springtime associations, creating a symbolic framework for the entire tale.
Character flaws and desires Januarie's characterisation reveals several problematic traits:
Lustful and indulgent behaviour:
- Has spent his life pursuing his "appetyte" for women
- Enjoyed "bodily delyt" outside marriage
- Desires only "yong flessh", refusing to marry anyone over twenty
- Views young women as malleable, like "wax" to be moulded
- Sees marriage in purely sexual terms, dreaming of young women
- Creates a walled garden for private sexual pleasure
Impulsive and self-centred decision-making:
- At sixty, suddenly decides marriage is God's wish
- Wants to produce an heir
- Seeks advice from friends but ignores counsel he dislikes
- Disregards Justinus' warnings about age and suitability
Januarie's view of young women as "wax" to be moulded reveals his controlling nature and objectification of women. This imagery becomes ironic when May later creates a wax mould of his garden key to give to Damian, turning his metaphor against him.
Arrogance and ignorance Januarie's attitude toward women demonstrates profound ignorance and arrogance. Despite his advanced age, he believes himself strong as a tree. He carries keys to the garden, symbolising his attempt to control his marriage and wife. The god Pluto blinds him for this ignorance - a literal manifestation of his metaphorical blindness.
Ultimate powerlessness Chaucer demonstrates how Januarie's control proves futile against both divine forces and human desire:
- His paranoia about his young wife ironically leads to him being cuckolded (his wife being unfaithful)
- When sight is restored and he sees May with Damian in the tree, he is easily convinced his vision is imperfect
- The tale's ambiguous ending implies Januarie's desperate need to remain married and produce an heir
- His acceptance of May back, stroking her belly, raises questions about his heir's legitimacy
- This ending suggests he will likely be cuckolded again, mocking the facade of courtly romance
Analytical Approach: Januarie's Blindness as Symbol
Step 1: Identify the literal event Pluto physically blinds Januarie, then restores his sight
Step 2: Examine the metaphorical meaning The physical blindness represents Januarie's inability to see:
- His own limitations due to age
- The reality of his relationship with May
- The consequences of his controlling behavior
Step 3: Connect to broader themes This blindness motif links to the repeated phrase "love is blynd alway", showing how passion and desire prevent clear judgment throughout the tale.
May
May serves as the tale's principal female character, whose name carries significant symbolic weight.
Symbolic identity Her name signifies youthful innocence and springtime, directly contrasting with Januarie's winter associations. She is described as "fresshe" (fresh) and virtuous, emphasising her youth.
Marriage without choice May's situation highlights the problems of imbalanced marriages not based on love:
- Januarie alone decides their marriage
- The significant age gap (he is over sixty, she is under twenty) creates inevitable problems
- Justinus warns Januarie about his inability to satisfy a younger woman, foreshadowing marital difficulties
The lack of consent in May's marriage is crucial to understanding her character. Medieval marriages often involved little choice for women, particularly when significant wealth or status differences existed. This context complicates simple moral judgments about her later actions.
Dissatisfaction and defiance May's response to her unsatisfying marriage manifests through complaint and action:
- She complains about Januarie's virility
- Falls in love with Damian, her husband's handsome young squire
- Engages in a secret affair, portrayed as defiant and unfaithful
Deceptive actions May's cunning emerges through her deliberate deceptions:
- Steals the key to the walled garden
- Ironically creates a wax mould of it (just as Januarie wished to mould her)
- Gives the key to Damian for secret meetings
The nature of desire The Merchant presents May's desire for Damian as purely physical rather than romantic:
- The encounter is sudden and physical, not romantically portrayed
- Described in crass language: "Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng"
- This crude depiction contrasts with idealised courtly love traditions
The crude, unromantic language used to describe May and Damian's encounter is significant. It suggests the Merchant's cynical view that all relationships - even those presented as love - are ultimately physical and selfish rather than spiritual or noble.
Biblical allusion May's characterisation, particularly her desire for a pear, alludes to Eve being tempted by the devil to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. This connection positions her within a tradition of female temptation and transgression.
Victim and survivor May's character embodies contradictory roles:
- Exposed by divine intervention (Pluto's trick)
- Helped by divine intervention (Proserpina's assistance)
- Successfully convinces Januarie he was mistaken about the affair
- Returns to Januarie's embrace with the implication of future affairs
Critical reception Both the Merchant and the Host are deeply critical of May's infidelity. The Host even prays God will prevent him meeting a woman like her, reflecting medieval attitudes toward female sexuality and faithfulness.
Damian
Damian serves as Januarie's young squire, representing youth, desire and temptation.
Character introduction Damian is described as handsome and love-struck, his lustful desire for "fresshe lady May" making him physically ill. This characterisation can be read as mockery of the grandiose melodrama typical of courtly romance traditions:
- Claims he can "no lenger...endure" life without May
- This leads to actual sickness
- His risky affair is described as enjoying a "lyf in aventure" (life of adventure)
The exaggerated nature of Damian's lovesickness - becoming physically ill from desire - parodies conventional courtly love narratives. This mockery reinforces the Merchant's cynical perspective on romantic ideals.
Cunning and deception Chaucer presents Damian as sly and calculating:
- Slips a note to May when she comes to comfort him during his illness
- The irony intensifies because Januarie himself sent May to help
- Agrees to meet May in secret, deceiving his master
Serpent imagery Damian is compared to an adder through simile: "lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe" (like the snake in the breast, sly and untrue). This serpent imagery suggests his character can be interpreted as the tempter in the Biblical Garden of Eden story. Just as the serpent successfully persuaded Eve to deceive God, Damian tempts May to betray Januarie.
The serpent imagery connecting Damian to the Biblical tempter strengthens the tale's Eden parallels. The garden setting, the temptation, and the fruit (pear) all reinforce this allegorical reading, suggesting the tale explores fundamental questions about human nature and sin.
Ending position The tale concludes with Damian still in the tree whilst May returns to her husband. This positioning suggests that Damian, and other temptations like him, continue to exist as ongoing threats.
Other characters
The host
The Host, named Harry Bailey (sometimes spelled Bailly), leads the pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury and serves as master of ceremonies for the storytelling contest.
Role and game As an innkeeper, Harry Bailey creates entertainment for the journey:
- Devises a storytelling competition
- Offers a free meal at his inn to whoever tells the best tale
- This framework structures The Canterbury Tales
Attitudes to marriage The Host's comments in The Merchant's Prologue reveal his own marital struggles:
- Views marriage as a burden to which he is tied
- Complains about his wife
- His mistrustful attitude prevents him saying too much
- His complaint that wives always discover the truth is simultaneously comical and cynical
- This presents him as submissive and victimised by his "shrewish" wife
The Host shares the Merchant's negative view of marriage, creating a pattern of male complaint within the pilgrimage framework. This suggests Chaucer is exploring widespread anxieties about marriage and gender relations in medieval society.
Justinus
Justinus functions as Januarie's friend whose very name indicates his role - he speaks justly and truthfully.
Sensible counsel Justinus offers pragmatic advice to Januarie:
- Recommends against marriage entirely
- If Januarie does marry, he should be sensible and humble
- Must admit he would not satisfy a younger woman (this directly insults the vain Januarie)
- Emphasises marriage is a serious, long-lasting commitment requiring considerable trust
Function in the tale Chaucer uses Januarie's friends to present contrasting types of advice:
- Justinus represents good, truthful counsel
- His warnings are ignored by Januarie
- This demonstrates how easily Januarie disregards what he does not want to hear
- Foreshadows the problematic marriage with May that follows
Placebo
Placebo serves as Justinus' foil, offering the opposite type of advice.
Meaning and method Placebo's name refers to a medicine that helps psychologically rather than physically - something that pleases rather than cures. This perfectly describes his approach:
- Speaks only to please others
- Tells Januarie to make up his own mind
- Flatters Januarie as wise, saying he will know what to do
- Offers platitudes and praise rather than genuine counsel
Function and symbolism Placebo represents sycophantic and self-interested individuals, particularly within court contexts. Januarie's preference for Placebo's flattery over Justinus' honest advice reveals his character flaws and foreshadows his poor decision-making.
The Justinus/Placebo contrast is crucial for understanding Januarie's character. His rejection of truth in favor of flattery demonstrates the pride and self-deception that lead to his downfall. This pattern repeats when he later accepts May's explanation despite witnessing her affair.
Pluto
Pluto appears as a god who directly intervenes in the tale's action.
Divine punishment and revelation Pluto's role demonstrates divine judgment:
- Blinds Januarie for his ignorance
- Later restores his sight so Januarie can see May's affair
- This intervention makes literal the metaphorical blindness of love and ignorance
Proserpina
Proserpina, goddess and wife of Pluto, intervenes to help May.
Divine assistance Proserpina's aid reveals gender dynamics even among the gods:
- Provides May with a convincing excuse for her affair
- Extends this gift to all women hereafter, she claims
- Her intervention counterbalances Pluto's punishment
The divine couple's opposing interventions mirror earthly marital conflict and the battle between the sexes that runs throughout the tale.
Key Points to Remember:
- Characters in The Merchant's Tale are deliberate constructs serving symbolic functions - always demonstrate this understanding in exam responses
- Names carry significant meaning: Januarie (winter/age), May (spring/youth), Justinus (justice/truth), Placebo (false comfort)
- The tale explores power imbalances through character relationships, particularly regarding age, gender and social status
- Biblical and mythological allusions (Adam and Eve, Pluto and Proserpina) add layers of meaning to character interpretation
- Consider characters comparatively - the contrasts between Januarie and May, Justinus and Placebo, Pluto and Proserpina illuminate central themes about marriage, wisdom and deception