Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. :: Free Essay Writer

Evaluate Chaucers use of jeering in the presentation of Courtly Love.The term Courtly discern had non existed in the fourteenth century. Itwas only later coined this in Victorian time, although the beliefexisted when Chaucer was writing. The idea of courtly love is aliterary concept that cannot be applied to real life due to what itentails. It was believed that this type of love is the close powerfuland is the defining experience of human existence. Chaucer uses thisidea in The merchants Tale, but inappropriately. He shows theability for there to be courtly love yet it is not fully carried out.In some circumstances he uses it to create humour in the tale bycreating ironic situations and behaviours with the characters. Thishighlights the problems with the relationships of the Characterswithin the poem.When we are first introduced to January, he is portrayed to be a richand noble man, which makes him ideal for courtly love.A meritorious night, that born was of Pavie,In which he lived in greet prosperiteeWith this limited acquaintance on January, it is possible to see that heis an apt person to be involved in courtly love. This changes,however, as we get to hear to a greater extent about his nature. He is shown tohave followed his bodily delit which is not a prime(a) found in acourtly lover. This then presents the reader with the occurrence that thereis something wrong with the idea of January being the courtly lover inthe tale. This creates irony as the reader sees that it will beinappropriate from the get down and that it will not work out. Iwould argue, that it also enables the audience to dispatch January lessseriously as we can see that he is not meant to be a character that weadmire.January is interested in acquire get married and wants to find himself awife. This is due to the fact that he feels he is getting old and hebelieves that through marriage he will spare himself from hislicentious past. This also does not fit in with courtly love ide a,which is that people will marry because they are in love. January doesfinally cut off a woman and then begins to list the qualities he hasfound in herHir middle small, hire armes longe and sklendre,Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,Although January is describing her appearance, he also brings up herpersonality and mind. This enables the reader to think that this couldbe courtly love because he does not think of her looks only. Bytalking about her mind he appears to be seeing her as his equal.