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A nun unlike the rest |
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The Canterbury Tales |
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<= span lang=3Den-US style=3D'language:en-US'>A more elaborate convent, a style q= uite liked by the Prioress. |
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The Prio= ress |
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In the Canterbury Tales, the Prioress is an aristocratic religious-professional = who runs a convent. During the fellowship’s travels, she is seen as a= caring, and amiable nun. The Prioress speaks broken French, which at the t= ime indicated her secular knowledge. The attitude she displays towards her = pet dogs differs her from a stereotypical nun –the Prioress intently = focuses on pleasure instead of committing to the= spiritual life.
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The life of a nun in England’s Middle Ages= was completely dedicated to all aspects of the convent. Nuns worked, lived= , and performed religious duties all within the walls of their nunnery. In = an age where few citizens could read and write, nuns were the only source o= f education for women. In the hierarchy of power within a convent, a priore= ss is the superior of a group of nuns. The main role of a prioress in the Middle Ages w= as to manage internal and external affairs regarding the convent, especiall= y in relation to the church. As the superior, a prioress enforced str= ict discipline among her nuns. Despite the travels the prioress takes in the Canterbury Tales, the historical prioress was not allowed to leave the convent until the d= ay she died. This conflicts the role of the Chaucer’s character, who = freely traveled even among men.
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An examination of the Medieval Prioress |
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IN HISTORY |
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For basi= c knowledge on how the Church affected daily life, click here. |
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The Iona nunnery ruins located in Britai= n. |
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Group prayer among nuns. |
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1. Gardening and cookin= g for the convent 2. Producing alcohol 3. Providing education = & medical services 4. Hours of reading and= mediation 5. Required attendance = of mass |
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Daily tasks |
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The prioress in culture |
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In England during the Middle Ages, the Church an= d State were virtually one entity. The most powerful man across the c= ontinent of Europe was the Pope, although since Britain was an island and s= ecluded from the mainland, Rome seemed farther away than it was. Therefore, the prioress was a strong symbol of t= he strength of God, and convents ran wild throughout England. At a point in= time were the vast majority of people were catholic (and if they weren't, = they were most likely Jews or Pagans) nuns were the workforce of the countr= y. In the Canterbury Tales= , the prioress is culturally well-a= ware, as she speaks French and is literate. Her caring nature, as displayed= towards her dogs, demonstrates that she is a giving, mother-figure to both= her nuns and students. In reality, a prioress during the Middle Ages ne= ver left the convent after the day she entered –this was a law. A his= torical prioress would still be a well cultured professional –but wou= ld learn through texts appointed by priests and bishops rather than real wo= rld experience and travel. |
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The prioress in the Ca= nterbury Tales is quite extravagant. Chaucer inten= ded to create his prioress as a rather selfish character, influenced by the= power of the church. Like her counterpart the monk, both stray from the pa= th of spiritual commitment at times. The wealth of the Church was great eno= ugh to damage them. |
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VS. |
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The prioress contrad= icts the historical figure. |
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Prominent educators |
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The Prioress in society— then&nbs= p; & &= nbsp; now |
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Located on the lowest part of the Catholic ̶= 0;totem pole”, nuns and monks are not officially ranked. The role tha= t the sisterhood played during the Middle Ages is similar to that of a chil= d during the time –to work and been seen, but not to be heard. All sisters, including the prioress, must accept= a set of vows in order to become a nun. The Vows: In the middle ages, nuns were not social figures= . The Middle Ages restricted what they could and couldn't do, their powers = were usually set and limited by higher-ranked officials within the Catholic= hierarchy. Womanhood did not help the nuns, because there was no equ= ality between genders. |
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A nun, a knight, and= a priest. |
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A nun in modern society differs greatly from her= historical counterpart. Today, nuns have the power to be doctors, professo= rs, educators, and other hold other professional careers. However, a nun must still live in a convent to b= e considered a nun. Rather, there is a distinct difference between ca= tholic nuns and sisters, who are not bound by the same rel= igious laws as nuns are.
Mother Teresa, a famous nun. No longer secluded from society, nuns today outwork those ranked membe= rs of the hierarchy, and are true Catholics visionaries and activitists. |
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Bibliography Vermeersch, Arthur. "= ;Nuns." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton = Company, 1911. 16 Nov. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11164a.htm&= gt;.Alston, George Cyprian. &= quot;Convent." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert App= leton Company, 1908. 16 Nov. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04340= c.htm>."Women and Religion.= " ozedweb.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <= "Women and Religion." ozedweb.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <= http://www.ozedweb.com/history/middle_ages_women_in>"Medieval Nuns." www.middle-a= ges.org.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/medieval= -nuns.htm>. |