The Knight and the Miller are complete opposites, not only in social status but also in terms of morals and values. The description of the Knight focuses on his deeds rather than his personality or physical appearance. This reflects the Knights character, that he is not bothered by how he looks to go on the pilgrimage ‘All besmotered with his habergeon, for he was late y-come from his voyage.’ This shows that the Knight is modest and doesn’t mind how he looks when he’s on the pilgrimage. The Miller on the other hand wears bold colours and seems like he has dressed up for going on the pilgrimage. Everything about him is big, both physically ‘Ful big he was of brawn, and eek of bones.’ and personality-wise.
The words Chaucer uses to describe each character are very different. The Knights portrait includes words such as ‘worthynes’, ‘trouthe’ and ‘honour.’ These words show admiration for the Knight. The words used to describe the Miller on the other hand are very simple words. Chaucer compares him to a sow, and describes his mouth the be ‘as greet was as a forneys.’ This shows the Miller as a simple character. The Knight is idealised by Chaucer in the same way as Knights are portrayed in fairytales. Chaucer uses hyperbole as a technique to infer to the reader that the Knight is idealised.
The deeds that the Knight has achieved are fighting for his country and for his faith and he is respected and looked up to by other members of society. The Millers only ‘deeds’ are achieved in mindless violence and brute strength, ‘at wrastlinge he wolde have alwey the ram.’ This shows that the Miller has physical brute strength. The portrait of the Miller implies to the reader that he is not very intelligent, ‘Tere was no dore that he nolde heve of harre, Or breke it at a renning with his heed.’ This statement is almost comical, and it helps the reader to realise that the ‘Millers Tale’ might be quite comical; a contrast to the ‘Knights Tale,’ which was very noble.
There are lots of religious references in both portraits. There are lots of Christian concepts in the Knights portrait, ‘As well in Christendom as Heatheness, and ever honoured for his worthiness,’ and there are lots of demonic suggestions in the Millers portrait, ‘A baggepipe wel koulde he blowe.’ In those days the devil was often pictured playing the bagpipes, which suggests that, the Miller is not very religious and even demonic. This could also infer to the reader that maybe the Miller is not on a pilgrimage to pay homage to God but to try to make himself look good. Later on, in the Millers Prologue, the Miller is blasphemous which could also support the idea that the Miller is not going on the pilgrimage for spiritual reasons but for want to be respected.
Both of the pilgrims have weapons but each for different reasons. The Knight has come from a battle and has used his weapon for fighting in the Crusades and for his faith, ‘For he was late y-come from his voyage, and wente for to do his pilgrimage.’ The Miller has his sword for show and bravado and it seems he only uses it for mindless violence. The references to the Millers strength show his severe lack of restraint, intelligence and social status.
Chaucer has presented the two portraits to introduce the two characters before they tell their tales. They are each very different both in social status and in personality, which is a reason why Chaucer put the tales next to eachother in the ‘Canterbury Tales,’ as it creates a contrast and variation in the story. The two portraits lay the foundations for both the Miller and the Knight to tell the tales they tell.