A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Monk's Tale

 

                                                                       The Prologue: 

After hearing The Tale of Meliboeus, the host says that he wishes that his wife had heard it as well since he claims her to be a woman of impatience. He then encourages the monk to tell a new tale. 

''My lord the Monk,'' quoth he, ''be merry of cheer, 

For ye shall tell a tale truely.''

The monk agreed to tell two or three tales. Unfortunately, as Chaucer was never able to finish The Canterbury Tales, only one was ever written. 

                                                                       

                                                                         The Tale: 

The monk spoke of how great some can fall from prosperity. He exhorted all not to trust in riches and reminds them that it can be taken from them: 

''I will bewail, in manner of tragedy, 

The harm of them that stood in high degree, 

And felle so, that there was no remedy, 

To bring them out of their adversity. 

For, certain, when that Fortune list to flee, 

There may trust in blind prosperity; 

Beware by these examples true and old. 

The monk went on to describe the fall of Lucifer from glory. He then went to describe how Adam lost the beauty of Paradise due to sin. He then went on in more detail to describe the fall of Sampson as well. Likewise, the monk then went on to tell the story of Hercules downfall. He then went on to describe the fall of Nebuchadnezzar. The monk does not end here, however. Indeed, he goes on to recount similar stories of mighty characters that fell from glory. 

                                                                            My Analysis: 

The Monk's tale is not really a tale. No, indeed, it is a long discourse over how pride and power can bring those in high estates far beneath us all. All in all, a good message!