literature question!?

http://www.enotes.com/

Being a Prioress for Medieval Catholics meant the Prioress "...is much tougher than she reveals. She does hold a position of great authority."

In the Tales, Chaucer writes approximately that "... the Host first jests rather coarsely about the Shipman's Tale (right before the Prioress) and about monks in general... then asks with exaggerated politeness for the Prioress's tale...."

She's tells one "difficult for modern readers to accept or fully understand," but it "....shows the Prioress's reverence for chastity and harsh judgment of Jews common to Medieval Catholics."

I studied a lot about Chaucer and these Tales in the past and I think Chaucer's own views on many matters are revealed in the Tales told.

I also know Chaucer was in a position in his life to constantly view many others... often as an accountant, often as a diplomat, sometimes as a soldier and lots more...

Chaucer saw those in power as royalty, those in power via religion, those in power by wars and the many peasants who were involved with both.

Chaucer himself was originally thought to be (no one really knows- not even when he was born or died) middle to upper-middle class-ish.

He got to observe many people from many classes (England is still class-conscious, as far as I know).

Chaucer had admirable abilities to note what he saw and write it down in a very sly, very reflective and often amusing way. He was a terrific story-teller and as found by historians: Often a very correct one.