The Franklin's tale is about a knight named Arveragus, a knight, that is in love with a woman named Dorigen. They are happy together until Arveragus goes to England for two years. Dorigen is very sad at his departure and has a hard time being happy for the whole duration that Arveragus is gone. Finally, in an attempt to be cheerful again, she goes with some friends to a picnic where there is a dance. At the dance is a young man named Aurelius, who is supposed to be the most handsome, wealthy, and popular man in the world. Aurelius has secretly loved Dorigen for a while and, at the dance, finally confesses his love for her. Dorigen declines his advances, which depresses Aurelius incredibly much. In an attempt to bring back his spirits, Dorigen tells him jokingly that if he can remove all the rocks from the coast of Brittany, then she will go with him. Aurelius actually tries but realizes that the task is impossible and goes to his brothers house dejectedly.
Aurelius is sick for two years so his brother tries to find a way to help him with his problem. The brother remembers hearing of a man that claimed to unlock the secret to doing magic so he goes to the magician and agrees to pay him 1000 pounds if the magician can remove all of the rocks from the coast of Brittany. The magician does so and Aurelius goes to Dorigen and asks her to keep her promise. Dorigen is horrified and thinks about committing suicide instead of having to be disgraced by this adulterous action. Arveragus then returns home to find Dorigen in a state of sadness and she tells him of her joking wager with Aurelius. Arveragus says that she must keep to her world and Dorigen presents herself to Aurelius. Aurelius hears of Arveragus's sacrifice and, in good conscious, can not keep Dorigen so he releases her back to her husband. Aurelius then realizes that he can not pay the magician but, when the magician finds out that Dorigen did not have to follow through with the agreement, the magician cancels the debt entirely.
That was the Franklin's tale.
In the Prolouge, Chaucer describes the Franklin as a man that lives for pleasures but still is nice enough to let many others indulge themselves in his own household. He had the finest wine, ale, and bread and he never had any shortage of pies and other food. Chaucer seems to not really approve of him because of his pickiness in what he has to eat but there is no direct dislike for any cruel actions that he has done.
The Franklin's tale is confusing because it does not really relate to the Franklin's character at all. The tale in itself is a very happy one that ends well for everyone involved.
TJ Schmitz and MJ Jameson
Aurelius is sick for two years so his brother tries to find a way to help him with his problem. The brother remembers hearing of a man that claimed to unlock the secret to doing magic so he goes to the magician and agrees to pay him 1000 pounds if the magician can remove all of the rocks from the coast of Brittany. The magician does so and Aurelius goes to Dorigen and asks her to keep her promise. Dorigen is horrified and thinks about committing suicide instead of having to be disgraced by this adulterous action. Arveragus then returns home to find Dorigen in a state of sadness and she tells him of her joking wager with Aurelius. Arveragus says that she must keep to her world and Dorigen presents herself to Aurelius. Aurelius hears of Arveragus's sacrifice and, in good conscious, can not keep Dorigen so he releases her back to her husband. Aurelius then realizes that he can not pay the magician but, when the magician finds out that Dorigen did not have to follow through with the agreement, the magician cancels the debt entirely.
That was the Franklin's tale.
In the Prolouge, Chaucer describes the Franklin as a man that lives for pleasures but still is nice enough to let many others indulge themselves in his own household. He had the finest wine, ale, and bread and he never had any shortage of pies and other food. Chaucer seems to not really approve of him because of his pickiness in what he has to eat but there is no direct dislike for any cruel actions that he has done.
The Franklin's tale is confusing because it does not really relate to the Franklin's character at all. The tale in itself is a very happy one that ends well for everyone involved.
TJ Schmitz and MJ Jameson