The element of secrecy is evident in the characters and their descriptions. This is necessary as the characters in the tale are of a fabliau sort and the incorporation of sex with ‘low-life’ characters requires secrecy, and the description sets the tone for the tale.
This begins with the description of Nicholas. Chaucer depicts Nicholas’ personality as ‘sleigh and ful privee’ instantly making the reader aware that this is an importance aspect of his character and reinforcing the initial assumptions that secrecy is very much evident and important in rest of the tale.
This also applies to Alison, but secrecy is initiated in an indirect manner. Chaucer describes her as a ‘hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth’, making it unambiguous that there is something ‘secret’ about Alison.
But the secrecy that Chaucer presents in Alison and Absolon are not the same as the secrecy that he presents in Nicholas, this shows that these two characters are not as ‘deep’ in personality as Nicholas, this can also be proven by the way that Chaucer gives Alison and Absolon extensive physical description thus making no secret of their vanity and superficiality.
The element of secrecy is maintained throughout the tale and Chaucer makes secrets and secrecy dominate the relationships between the characters.
The most palpable been Nicolas and Alison. The actions in their first encounter are described as ‘prively’ and this adds to the bawdiness of their relationship. Alison also says ‘That but ye waite wel and been privee’ and this line makes it clear to the reader that there is and will be more deceit in the tale.
Alison and John’s relationship is not only surrounded by possession but also secrecy, and even though Chaucer does not describe John or describes an incident between the husband and wife where they interact fully, the way that the plan is concocted by Alison and Nicholas, in which there is no hesitation or objection to the prospect of deceiving John, portrays the secrecy in their relationship. Even though Absolon openly serenades Alison under her window, he also ‘woweth hire by meen and brocage’. This emphasises the secrecy both in the tale and between the characters.
The use of secrecy in the tale makes it more accessible as secrecy is something that many readers can relate to, but it also adds a great deal to the humour in the tale. Nicholas uses secrecy to fool John, Nicholas convincing John that he is in on the secret and the actions of John is an entertaining part of the tale, and this adds another layer of secrecy in the tale. The use of the words ‘privee’, ‘prively’ and ‘ful privee’ all accentuate the secrecy and deceit in the tale. It also connects with the reader further as they have always known of the secrets and lies that the characters are telling each other.
The presentation of secrecy in the tale is maintained throughout the tale and is apparent to the very end as Absolon’s revenge on Nicholas is very much done in secret. Even though there is a sense of openness at the end of the tale with John falling thought the roof and the whole village coming to witness this, Alison and Nicholas are still deceiving Nicholas and the other people ‘The man is wood, my leeve brother’, thus bringing the tale to full circle as it began with secrecy and ended with secrecy also.
