How Does Chaucer Use Character Archetypes In Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales have provoked controversy for nearly 500 years. Canterbury Tales used everyday characters to point out the faults in 1500’s society. Chaucer used characters from religious figures, peasants, and even royalty. To this day, Chaucer’s smart, and witty department of people and what they do remains true to real life. When asked the question of who Chaucer would use in a modern setting, the choice is very clear. The modern character archetypes that Chaucer would use, would be a talentless celebrity, a news anchor, and a policeman.

Chaucer’s first choice would be the talentless celebrity. The definition of a talentless celebrity is someone who is only popular for their body, or just because. These people have few, or no skills, and if they do, they don’t apply them. This type of person has become hugely popular in modern society with families like the Kardashians, and the Hiltons. Chaucer would use these people to tell stories about vanity, and make the character indulge in themself, but no one else would have the same feelings. Chaucer would also capitalize on this opportunity to show how “upper class” people can be very useless. This perhaps would be the quickest archetype for Chaucer to jump on, considering how talentless celebrities share a lot in common with some of the

News anchors are a product of modern society, and weren’t even dreamt up in the wildest minds of Chaucer’s time. By using a news anchor archetype, Chaucer could discuss how the upper and lower class interact, by using the middle man. Chaucer would most likely use Walter Cronkite, and have him talk about how he had to tell his nation that their beloved leader was murdered. Using Mr. Cronkite as an example would also show that Chaucer hasn't abandoned humility, just like some of his characters in Canterbury Tales weren’t entirely bad. In essence, this character would give balance and credibility to Chaucer’s