Consider the ways in which the Miller presents John the Carpenter in The Miller's Tale.

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Consider the ways in which the Miller presents John the Carpenter in The Miller's Tale.

In your answer you should pay particular attention;

- Vocabulary and style

- Form

- Any other features of language you consider to be important

John the Carpenter is a character who Chaucer uses to make an example of someone who is extremely gullible. To some extent, the nature of which he is gullible can often be unbelievable because some of the things he does are of a farcical nature;

"Y-geten us thise kneeding-tubbes three,

Than shaltou hang hem in the roof full hye"

The Carpenter is a central character in the plot because he is the person who the majority of the 'jokes' and farces are based upon. The fact that he has such a gullible nature means that he is easily tricked into believing anything of an absurd nature, this usually being from Nicholas. Also, as the tale develops, we actually see it becoming even more stupid. These farcical situations all create to the main theme of the tale which s the mocking of the Fabliaux and Courtley Love.
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John is presented to the reader as a character who is extremely jealous and possessive of his wife. Then when John's gullibility leads him to believe Nicholas pronouncement that a second flood is coming, John foolishly accepts and believes what he is saying, giving Nicholas the opportunity to sleep with John's wife. Chaucer therefore presents John as getting what he deserved due to his jealous nature. However, Chaucer gives an equal balance to John's character; some character traits allow to him be rather dim and gullible, but also at the same time he shows a kind and caring ...

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