Character Sketch of Knight - Geoffrey Chaucer

 

Geoffrey Chaucer has created a number of marvelous characters in the gallery of his poetry. In ‘Prologue to the Canterbury Tales’, he has introduced as many as twenty-nine characters with their outward appearance and inner intentions. He gives both the personal and general details about his characters hence, his characters appear before the very eyes of the readers. It is generally and frequently remarked that Chaucer’s repute main rests upon the creation of the best character e.g., ‘The Knyght’.

Chaucer opens the account of his characters with the description of the most sacred spirit i.e. ‘The Knight’ so that the other characters may be judged in the light of this pious character and thus he makes readers distinguish between good and bad human traits.

 

“A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,

That fro the tyme that he first bigan,

To riden out, he loved chivalrie,

Trouthe and honóur, fredom and curteisie.”

 

Chaucer has made this character the representative of the whole knighthood by giving general details about this character. Knight has fought a number of bloody battles. H has also gone to different countries just to assist the Lords in their fight against their rivals. He has ever fought for the sake of his religion. Chaucer remarks that Knight was not only brave but he was also wise;

 

“And evermore he he hadde a sovereyn prys,

And though that he was worthy, he was wys.”

 

Chaucer’s knight was very humble before his lords and ever obeyed their commandments without any hesitation. Chaucer has glorified the profession of knighthood through this magnificent character. It is believed that Chaucer himself was a soldier in his early life.

Chaucer was a versatile writer who took poetry to the Alpine peak and the heights reached by him could not be kept by the later poets. There is a long catalogue of such writers who wish and desire to achieve what Chaucer possessed.

It is a matter of common matter of common observation that knight has fought a score of secular and non-secular battles. The battles that he has fought for the sake of his religion (Christianity) are called the Crusades. Despite his bravery in the battel field, he was a though gentleman. He ever spoke gentle words in a polite manner which compelled Chaucer remark about him;

 

“And of his port as meek as is a mayde,

He never yet no vileynye ne sayde.”

 

Giving personal details about his Knight, Chaucer makes him a typical character. He informs us that the Knight was coming to Canterbury right after having fought his latest battle therefore;

 

“Of fustian he wered a gypon,

Al bismótered with his habergeon.”

 

Chaucer has touched almost every character with light or severe ironic touches. However, knight’s sophisticated and exuberant character has given no chance to the writer to pin out any malpractice which may be ridiculed or satire in any sense.

To cut the matter short, Chaucer’s knight becomes the center of interest through and through. He is the most perfect character in the company of 29 people who were going to Canterbury at the shrine of St. Thomas.