The Lawyers Prolouge Essay Research Paper The

The Lawyers Prolouge Essay, Research Paper

The Lawyer.s Prologue

In, .The Lawyer.s Prologue., by Geoffrey Chaucer, Chaucer mixes and tries to differ

himself in telling the story, by making it seem that the tale is being told between the actual

author and the narrator, by giving the lawyer some critical reference to Chaucer. Chaucer is

writing this trying to show as if the lawyer were to be telling the tale, and not Chaucer him

self. The majority of what the Lawyer says is not important or not of significance with the

story. The Lawyer is portrayed as dignified and formal, addressing the diverse crowd as if he

were speaking to the court.

Introduction to The Lawyer.s Prologue

The host speaks to the rest of the travelers, telling them that they can regain lost

property but not lost time. The host suggests that the lawyer tell the next tale, and he agrees

to do so, because he does not want to break his promises. He also says that the people should

keep the laws they give to other people. The host refers to Chaucer who works shallow and

writes poorly, but at the least he does not write of tales of lust. The Lawyer prepares to tell of

a tale which will include poverty, and talks of it in an affectionate and formal way.

The Lawyer.s Tale

In Syria there was a company of wealthy traders who made a journey to Rome. After

a certain time there encountered Constance the emperor.s daughter, who was famous for her

goodness and beauty. When the merchants returned to Syria, they reported to the Sultan what

they had seen; the Sultan was immediately filled with lust for this Constance. The Sultan met with his advisors and told them of what he was told and his intentions. They could find no

way for the Sultan to marry Constance. The Sultan is a Moslem, and Constance a Christian,

for no emperor would allow his daughter to marry a Moslem. The Sultan then decided to

convert to Christianity in a heavy intent to marry this beauty. With this in change, the em

peror gave Constance away to the Sultan for he was full of joy, but Constance left in sorrow

for she did not wish to live in a foreign country. She understands the connection with a

women being made to be a man.s subject, and lives on with her life. This tale commends the

sacrifice and honor of Constance the daughter of the Roman Emperor who will suffer a num

ber of injustices during the years to come for her with the Sultan. It is a religious tale which

does not reach for the subtlety of allegory. Constance depends on her religious faith for her

survival throughout her life with the Sultan. The people who do not share the Christian faith

with her are evil and cruel to her. This tale takes a small view into humanity in which Chris

tianity represents clean purity and any other religious tradition is evil.

Her virtue and honor differ from her devotion to Christian principles, while those

who posses other religious beliefs are doubtful of her. This holds true for the Syrians and the

Sultan, for which she has her life revolved around. The Lawyer describes them as jealous ans

the Sultan, lustful. He demands to marry Constance hearing only of her beauty, which leads

him to marry for lust. He desires the power that comes from her status as a Roman royalty.

The only instance where the Sultan is redeemed is when he converts to Christianity. Even

though this conversion happens, Constance is faced with the evil of the Sultan.s mother

which is shown through her devotion to her faith and the unwillingness to accept Christian

principles. Remember that the Sultan converted to Christianity, not his mother.

The Sultan.s mother and her confidants agreed never to renounce their Islamic faith,and she compared Constance with Eve, tempting her son to sinful action. The mother of the

Sultan and her advisors will pretend to accept Christianity and host a feast for the Sultan and

his new wife. During the feast, the mother had her followers massacre all the attendants.

Only Constance survived, and they put her on a boat with enough food to survive, but no

navigation gear to help her get back to Italy. Constance remained on this ship for many

years. Through her prayer she remained safe. The ship finally crashed on the shores of the

Northumberland. The warden of a nearby castle found Constance and gave her shelter, but

she refused to give her identity. He and his wife, Dame Hermengild, were pagans, but Con

stance secretly converted her to Christianity. Christians could only practice their religion pri

vately and secretly. One day, Constance, Hermengild, and her husband were walking on the

beach, and were approached by a blind Christian who identified her. Although Hermengild

feared her husband would ask her about her conversion, he to converted. The King of the

land was Alla. A young knight, who was influenced by Satan, fell in love with Consatance

and had lust for her. He wanted to be with her, but she refused. In an act of revenge, he one

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