Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. :: Free Essay Writer

Evaluate Chaucers use of irony in the showing of Courtly Love.The term Courtly esteem had non existed in the ordinal century. Itwas only later coined this in Victorian time, although the conceptexisted when Chaucer was writing. The idea of courtly love is aliterary concept that cannot be applied to concrete life due to what itentails. It was believed that this type of love is the most powerfuland is the defining experience of human existence. Chaucer uses thisidea in The Merchants tarradiddle, but inappropriately. He shows theability for there to be courtly love yet it is not fully carried out.In many circumstances he uses it to create humour in the tale bycreating ironic situations and behaviours with the characters. Thishighlights the problems with the relationships of the Characters indoors the poem.When we are first introduced to January, he is portrayed to be a abundantand noble man, which makes him ideal for courtly love.A worthy night, that born was of Pavie,In which h e lived in greet prosperiteeWith this limited knowledge on January, it is attainable to see that heis an apt person to be involved in courtly love. This changes,however, as we get to hear more about his personality. He is shown tohave followed his bodily delit which is not a quality found in acourtly lover. This then presents the reader with the fact that thereis something awry(p) with the idea of January being the courtly lover inthe tale. This creates irony as the reader sees that it leave behind beinappropriate from the beginning and that it will not work out. Iwould argue, that it withal enables the audience to take January less sternly as we can see that he is not meant to be a character that weadmire.January is interested in getting married and wants to find himself awife. This is due to the fact that he feels he is getting old and hebelieves that through marriage he will redeem himself from hislicentious past. This also does not fit in with courtly love idea,which is that people will marry because they are in love. January doesfinally pick a char and then begins to list the qualities he hasfound in herHir middle small, contract armes longe and sklendre,Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,Although January is describing her appearance, he also brings up herpersonality and mind. This enables the reader to cerebrate that this couldbe courtly love because he does not think of her looks only. Bytalking about her mind he appears to be seeing her as his equal.