Harry Bailey In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

In his anthology Canterbury Tales, William Chaucer uses Harry Bailey, the Host, to structure the frame story and move the plot along. He also functions as the group leader and peace keeper and is used to create a deeper understanding of the tales in general.

The Host is the one who comes up with the idea to pass the time by playing a story telling game. He directs the order the tales are told in. He is described as being large with piercing eyes, and “fit to be a marchal in a halle.” He comes across as friendly, sensible, and agreeable.

The host takes the competition very seriously, which is shown when he refuses to let the drunken cook tell his tale "By cause drynke hath dominacioun Upon this man, by my savacioun, I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale." Saying that he wouldn’t be able to come up with a good enough tale to have a chance at winning, so the cook will have to wait until he is sober. He prefers the more comedic and witty tales, like the nun’s priest’s. He becomes extremely upset with those who tell tragic or morbid stories like the monk and physician. When the physician finishes his story the host proclaims, “But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme, That I almoost have caught a cardynacle.” Meaning that the physician’s story made his heart grieve so much that he almost caught a palpitation of the heart.

He tells the manciple to leave the cook alone and tells the friar, "in company we wol have no debaat," when he begins to tease the summoner. Unfortunately, his emotions often get the better of him, and he thinks without speaking, creating more problems than he solves. This is seen when the pardoner tries to sell fake relics to the rest of the travelers, and the Host becomes enraged, forcing the knight to