At the end of her tale, the Prioress says: “Preye eek for us, we sinful folk unstable/ That of his mercy God so merciable/ On us his grete mercy multiplye/ For reverence of his moder Marye. Amen” (687-90). I find these lines curious in the context of a story that emphasizes the righteousness of Christians and the sinfulness of Jews. Her last lines appear to dissolve the distinction set up by her story. Does she, on some level, compare herself to the Jews in these lines? And do the lines, to some extent, soften the harsh treatment of the people she describes with such seeming contempt?
I agree that this remark, which seems to chide the christian folk, seems incongruous with a tale which exposes the cruelty of the Jews. However, I also wonder, having read the obsequious and humbly-written Prologue, if this is perhaps just another routine reverential reaffirmation of one's faith in Catholicism, repentfulness and constant submission to Mary, instead of an act consigning oneself to the same category as the Jews.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, that's a good point. I could very well be wrong but I believe that Medieval Christians were still very austere and God-fearing (in the literal sense). Whereas during the Renaissance, Catholicism was almost conflated with classical humanism, and art and literature celebrated man's resemblance to Jesus (or Jesus's humanity), during Chaucer's time Christians were much more focused on man's inherent sinfulness. Thus, the Prioress's plea to God to be more "merciable" to "we sinful folk unstable" may simply be here way of expressing her Christian piety.
ReplyDeleteThough she does say "Preye eek for us, we synful folk" I believe that is more Christian conceit and not a linkage to the Jews. I believe that the Christians, particularly the Prioress saw little connection with the Jews and Rubin citing Gautier expresses the strong theological difference between the Jews and the Christians. Gautier wrote, "...and the whole world must hate [the Jews] / because they do not wish to desist from their errors" (pg. 15). Thus while Christians and Jews and all people are sinful from original sin the Christians believe they are at least oriented the correct way spiritually while the Jews are willfully rejecting this spiritual path and salvation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the multitude here. The groveling piety Jeremy cites from the Prologue, combined with the prayer form surrounding "we sinful folk unstable," suggests that it is simply ingrained catechism. There seems to be very little in the Prioress' tale (or prologue, for that matter) to suggest self-awareness at all, and this seems to be no exception.
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