“…At wrastlinge he wolde have alwey the ram…”
This expresses to the reader through the technique of metaphor that the Miller is a forceful character through his physical attributes, in comparison to the powerful animal the ram. Chaucer presents a direct comparison between the ram and the Miller as he could break any door at “renning with his head”, illustrating the associated charge of the ram.
Chaucer further expresses the description of the Miller using the technique of the simile, as the Miller’s physical description is compared to the colour of a sow’s ear. This is an ongoing theme within the portrait of the Miller, as Chaucer relates to animal characteristics and description to illustrate the Miller.
“…A werte, and theron stood a toft of heris,
Reed as the brustles of a sowis eris;…”
This illustrates to the reader that the Miller is not attractive, as the “werte” clearly conjures a physical appearance of the Miller, in relation to his unpleasant attributes of wrestling and speaking of “harlotries”. The reader directly contrasts the first tale of the Knight with the Miller’s tale, as the social class of the Miller conveys the “sinne and harlotries” as a main focal point within his character.
Chaucer conveys the Miller’s ill-manner within the “Miller’s Prologue”, as the Miller interrupts the social order of the tale telling. The Miller is illustrated by the poet as “drunken was al pale”, clearly depicting the colour of the Miller under the influence of alcohol. The Miller is illustrated to not have the common courtesy to take off his hat or cloak in front of the company as;
“…Ne abide no man for his curteisie…”
The poet has used the technique of double negative to clearly portray the status of the Miller as a normal man, in comparison to the nobility of the knight. Chaucer uses reference to Pilate to describe the dialogue of the Miller, to create a tone of evil and morbidity as the miller “…in Pilates vois he gan to crie…”.This illustrates a low bellowing of a voice from the miller, clearly illustrated in the vivid reference of evil.
Chaucer uses the technique of irony in the Miller’s dialogue, as the Miller expresses he will tell his tale by “…Goddes soule…” in context to the holy pilgrimage, which the reader can contrast as the Miller does not come across as a religious character, due to his frequent comments on sexual jokes and the “Reeves wife”. The reader identifies that the Miller knows himself to be drunk, as the poet has used Alliteration and rhyming couplets to attract the reader to understand the Miller’s reason for his tale.
“…That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun;
And therefore if that I misspeke of seye,
Wite it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye…”
This expresses to the reader that the Miller is partial to a drink of ale, almost excusing him for interrupting the order which would have followed with the Monk from the tale of the Knight.
Chaucer further illustrates the Miller’s view on marriage with the Miller explaining the tale of a carpenter and his wife, illustrating many wives as un-loyal to their husbands. The poet conveys irony as, “…Ther been ful goode wives…” illustrating that many wives are un-loyal to their husbands, with the miller portraying as long as he has his requirements in a sexual context, he does not mind what his wife is doing, as
“… Of the remenant nedeth nat enquire…”
In conclusion, the reader responds to the description of the Miller due to the linguistic techniques of which Chaucer has used in the “General Prologue” and “The Miller’s Prologue” to clearly illustrate the Miller as a character of the company, but to also contrast his views in relation to the remaining 29 of the pilgrimage felony.
