A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Man of Law's Tale

 

                                                                The Introduction

There was a dialogue between the host and the man of law concerning past mythological stories. The man of law made several references to Ovid's The Metamorphoses.  After mentioning several Greek stories, he goes on to the prologue. 

And with that word he, with a sobre chere, 

Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here. 

                                                                   The Prologue: 

O hateful harm! condicion of poverte! 

The above lines are the opening words of the prologue. The man of law goes on to describe the hard conditions of poor. Additionally, he reprimands the rich to be grateful for what they have. 

                                                                     Part One:  

There were once in Syria successful group of merchants that were sought after by all for the goods that they frequently traded. After this description of the group by the man of law, the text tells of these merchants having been soon summoned to Rome. 

The emperor of Rome's daughter, Constance, is described in the text as one that the storyteller wishes was the monarch over Europe. Likewise, all the merchants were glad of her presence. 

When they had returned home, the merchants told of the beauty of Princess Constance to the sultan of Syrian. In return to their description of her to him, the sultan felt he needed Constance lest he die. In fact, the sultan was willing to convert to Christianity just to have her. Later, he had his land Christianized for this goal. 

Despite not wishing to marry the sultan of Syria, Constance was sent out by her people to his land to marry him. Constance grieved about her departure from her homeland. 

At the same time of Constance's travel, the sultan's mother was threatened by her son's conversion from Islam to Christianity. She plotted to stop his reform of the kingdom as she faked her own conversion. 

                                                                      Part Two:

 Christians arrived in Syria as the news of their arrival spread to both the sultan and to his mother. The Syrians and Romans both met. Additionally, the sultan's mother gladly received Constance to be her daughter in law. 

The happiness of this potential alliance soon wore off, however. The sultaness, the great wicked woman that she was, had her son and all the Christians murdered in a stable. Constance though, was not murdered. Nevertheless, the sultaness had her sent back on a boat from Syria to Italy again. Constance felt desperate for God's aid. 

She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys

Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she, 

''O clere, o welful auter, holy auter, holy croys,

Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,

That wesh the world fro the old iniquitee, 

Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe, 

That day that I shall drenchen in the depe...''

Constance was at sea for years. Finally, she found her way to the British Isles. A Constable and his wife took care of her there. Soon, out of Constance's influence, the constable converted to Christianity. 

Meanwhile, Satan hated the pure Christian character that Constance was. He aroused a knight after her that tried to persuade Constance to sin. She, however, refused the knight's pursuit of her. In return, the knight decided that he would kill her. He went on to kill the constable's wife and falsely accuse Constance of committing this terrible dead. Thankfully, however, his crime was found out and he was sentenced to death for it as many came to see Constance's innocence. 

Now, a similar occurrence happened to Constance as her experience in Syria. The king in Britain wished to marry her though his mother wished otherwise to his desires concerning this. Nevertheless, the king married her, and she became impregnated by him as he was gone to Scotland for war. 

Eventually, Constance gave birth to a boy named Maurice. After Maurice was infant baptized, word of the newly born child spread all the ways to the king. Sadly, the constable became persuaded against the queen and her son and had them sent out from his kingdom. 

Once again, as Constance set out, she had to trust God through all their sufferings. 

                                                                              

                                                                            Part Three:

The king was grieved once he learned that his wife and son had been sent away. He knew that his wife's departure from his kingdom was from the hands of his wicked mother. 

Meanwhile, Constance's boat took her to a heathen land. Her journey continued to lead her across sea and land. 

Alas, during all of these events, the emperor of Rome had many of the Syrians killed for their violence on his people. On their way back home, the Romans found Constance at sea and took her with them. 

After being in Rome, providence brought the reunion of Constance and the king from Britain. After much mourning, they felt rest. 

After these events, Maurice went on to be crowned as emperor of Rome by the pope. Alla, Constance's husband, reigned with her in England for the remaining days of their life, which were no doubt happy ones. 

                                                                        My Analysis: 

Perhaps one of the more serious of The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law's Tale is about a character that trusted in God no matter what during her situations. It would have been much easier for Constance to have dropped her faith in God during her trials. Instead, though, Constance was faithful to God until the end of her days.