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The Merchant Chaucer

280 Words2 Pages

The Merchant (who Chaucer does not name) is a fur trader described as being tall, proud, and dressing in lavish clothing. He is viewed as being quite wealthy due to his dress although in reality it is stated he is secretly in debt. However despite his debt (which is implied to be due to borrowing), he has great business sense as seen by his knowledge regarding trade and currency. In many ways his characteristics in “real” life are the same with the charecters in his tale that he tells the pilgrims. First is the fact that he and Januarie both can be seen as having poor moral values. Januarie is shown to only be interested in marriage due to his own lust rather than love, likewise the Merchant can be viewed amoral since he is in debt yet continues

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