The Millers Tale: Gender Relations in Fourteenth Century England

Xavier Cortez
C06181700
English 211 E
Dr. Healy

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The fabliau is a comic or satirical tale characterized by straightforward and crude

language, especially with regard to sex and other obscene topics. The plot usually involves some
sort of trickery or deception. Employing the narrative elements of the misdirected kiss, fear of a
second flood, and branding with a hot iron, Geoffrey Chaucers The Millers Tale is truly an
example of a Middle English fabliau. The Millers Tale was written in the fourteenth century as
part of a larger set of stories collectively known as The Canterbury Tales. During this time, a
growing middle class would begin to obscure the boundaries between the three traditional
classes: the aristocracy, the clergy, and the agrarian class. The distinction of social classes as well
as the roles of men and women would greatly influence Chaucers writing. In The Millers Tale,
Chaucer examines the relationships between men and women and how they differ in the public
and the private spheres.
The second character introduced, but probably the most important character in the story,
is Alison. After all, Alison is the object of desire for the three male characters and she is what
drives their behaviors. Alison is the young, beautiful wife of John the Carpenter. John is much
older than her, and is therefore very jealous. He is afraid that she will cheat on him. The narrator
acknowledges that John deemed himself been like a cokewold (line 118). Because of the
substantial age difference, the main concern for their marriage is of a physical nature. John is
described as a rich churl (line 80) who boards his house, so money is not a problem. He also
loves her very dearly, to the point that Nicholas uses this to deceive John with his made up vision
of the second flood. John fears that he will not satisfy her sexual needs and that she will go
outside the marriage to fulfill them. As the husband, John has control over their marriage in the
publics eye. Privately, his fears suggest that it is Alison is the one who has the power in their
marriage.

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The master planner of the fabliaus characteristic trick, Nicholas, is introduced as a

poore scoler (line 82) who boards in Johns house. The first few descriptions of Nicholas are
very important, as they foreshadow what his role will be in the story. He is referred to as hende
Nicholas (line 91), meaning clever, and the narrator also states that he is capable Of derne love
and of solas (line 92), meaning that he knew about secret love and pleasurable practices.
Nicholas is immediately captivated by Alisons beauty, and he wastes no time in asking her for
sex in a very straightforward manner. On a day when John is away at Oseneye, Nicholas grabs
Alison by her genitalia and begins trying to convince her to have sex with him. Alison tries to
resist Nicholas proposition, but his advances are so enthusiastic that she hir love him graunted
atte laste (line 182), meaning that she agrees to have sex with him. This statement suggests, in a
subtle way, that Alison is in control of this relationship. Nicholas is begging, pleading, and even
crying in his efforts to convince Alison to fulfill his wish and it is she that, albeit after little
resistance, grants his wish.
The final male character in the story is Absolon the parish clerk. Absolon tries to woo
Alison in the traditional sense of courtly love. He stands outside her bedroom window and sings
and plays guitar for her, but to no avail. He seems to be sincere in his pursuit of Alison, but
towards the end of the story it becomes evident that he is not much different than Nicholas. After
being humiliated by Nicholas and Alison with the misdirected kiss, his feelings change quickly.
The narrator states that his hote love was cold and al yquent! (line 645) and that he was heled
of his maladye (line 649). Absolon responds angrily by branding Nicholas with the hot iron.
Although they took very different approaches, both Nicholas and Absolon were both after the
same thing: sex. Their lustful desires of Alison put her in control of both of those situations.

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Alison once again finds herself with the power, in contrast to the traditionally male-dominated
society.
All three male characters receive some form of punishment, while Alison appears
to have received none. For Nicholas and Absolon, their punishments are private and no one will
likely find out about them. Absolon suffered humiliation at the hands of Alison and Nicholas,
while Nicholas was branded with the hot iron on his backside by Absolon. John, the storys most
innocent character, receives the most punishment of all. He breaks his arm in the fall from the
roof, his wife has cheated on him, and he becomes the laughing stock of the town after Nicholas
and Alison do not corroborate his story of the second flood. Perhaps the narrator felt that Johns
punishment was most deserved for al his keeping and his jalousye (line 743). After all, in
medieval society a married woman is considered the property of her husband. If she did not
behave properly, it was a direct reflection of the spouse and his inability to control his woman.
The marriage was doomed from the beginning because John chose such a young wife. John did
not know or simply chose to ignore that men should wedde his similitude. Men sholde wedden
after hir estate, for youthe and elde is often at debat (lines 120-122). In society, John is
representative of both himself and his wife, so perhaps he receives the most punishment because
he is also taking on the burden of Alisons punishment or lack thereof.
In The Millers Tale, Chaucer explores the dynamics of relationships between men and
women. Society in fourteenth century England dictated that the man was the dominant figure in
the relationship. This was true publicly, but privately it was not always the case. Alison is an
example of this. She controls all her relationships and is the motivation behind all their
behaviors.