“Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute”
Alison shows off that she’s rich by wearing the most expensive fabric of silk at the time, again this adds to the opposite side of courtly love romances in which the girl would not show off but in fact stay unaware of such matters as the character of Emily in the Knights tale.
Miller then uses two male Characters who show great admiration for Alison but unlike the love of the two young Knights in the Knight’s tale these two characters, Nicholas and Absolon want quick resolutions to their sexual desires and lust. Miller firstly describes Nicholas as a young scholar who stays as a paying guest with the carpenter,
“And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,…he mad a-nightes melodie”
Nicholas is described to have a decorated room, he is a lively man and depends on his friends as he cant afford to pay all of his rent. Chaucer continuously uses the word “hende” when ever he refers to Nicholas this word would usually mean gentle but as we see that Nicholas is not described to be courteous or gracious the word is ironically used to suggest that he is sly and opportunist. Again there is no sign of a hero from courtly love romances.
Nicholas openly expresses his lust to Alison “love me al atones, or I wol dyen”. Again reflecting back to the Knights tale in which the lovers stay calm and modestly await the time till when they can get their love. But here Miller completely mocks that idea of the Knight and so makes a parody out of it. Alison who at first refuses to kiss Nicholas then within seconds agrees to sleeping with him, Nicholas very easily persuades Alison “spak so faire, and profred him so faste,”
Chaucer shows how the miller parody’s this with the courtly love tale of the Knight as Emily in the Knights tale is extremely innocent about matters of love.
The second lover that the Miller introduces is Absolon who is suppose to be a parish clerk but has extraordinary talents. He takes more care of his appearance then any woman and dresses and speaks in a very feminine way, “thereupon he hadde a gay surplis”. Absolon has a great interest in Barmaids and is described as a jolly parish clerk, he also has other talents as letting blood and playing a musical instrument, Absolon thinks that he’s a courtly lover but in fact that too is made as an ironic statement from Absolon. The description of the two lovers in Millers tale shows extreme parody of courtly love.