Summary:
The Sergeant of the Law is basically a medieval lawyer, who performs various skills needed to be a lawyer with ease. He uses his success to climb up the social ladder, which was very significant in medieval times since it allowed him to live a more luxurious lifestyle. His guidance and services are used by kings, queens, and other high-ranking individuals, so this gives him to opportunity to be able to associate himself with the high-ranked people in order to gain even more success and prestige. With his new financial success, the Sergeant of the Law purchased a good amount of land, which was almost like the stairway into helping his future children or even his family name gain nobility. Now, the Sergeant of the Law is always trying to create this image that he is always so swamped with work and works extremely hard at his job when in reality he is kinda sluggish. Overall, the tale of the Sergeant of the Law is about a merchant and how he taught the lawyer to use others to help yourself along with your own personal hard-work.
Question #1:
- "You earn by land and sea, your wealth accrues, While also you gain knowledge of the state Of kingdoms; you've been bearers, too, of news, Of tales of peace and war. And desolate I'd be right now for stories to relate Had not a merchant taught me, many a year Ago, a tale, and one that you shall hear."
The quotes above show how the Sergeant of the Law believes that society must earn their wealth and also show the importance of knowledge. Knowledge is valuable despite the fact that it may not be land or money. This is shows indirectly a belief within the Sergeant of the Law. In addition, this quote leads into the Lawyer's Tale.
2. "My lords," said he, "I warn you all the rout,
A fourth part of the day's already gone.
Now for the love of God and of Saint John,
Let's lose as little time now as we may.
My lords, it's time that wastes both night and day,
That robs us while we sleep without defense,
And while awake, through our own negligence.
It's like a stream returning not again,
Descending from the mountain to the plain.
Well Seneca, like others of his measure,
Bewails the loss of time more than of treasure:
'Of chattels there may be recovery,
But we are ruined by loss of time,' said he.
It will not come again, that's safely said,
No more than may come Malkin's maidenhead
Once she has lost it in her wantonness.
Let's not grow moldy, then, through idleness."The quotes presented above show his desire to lose himself to his religion instead of being taken over by his own negligence. This could be one of the various reason why the Sergeant of the Law decided to make the trip to Canterbury.
3. "You blame Lord Jesus, saying bitterly
His temporal blessings aren't proportional; You also blame your neighbor wrongfully, You say that you have little, he has all. You say, "He'll pay, by faith, it shall befall That his tail will be burning in the coals Because he doesn't help us needy souls."
The quotes above show how the Sergeant of the Law doesn't believe in using religion as an excuse to do your work. Everyone must work in order to prosper and religion is there to support us not do it for us. This showed his strong belief in the guidance of religion, which affects his own decisions, beliefs, and bias.
4. "Host," he replied, "depardieux, I assent,
To break agreements is not my intent.
A promise is a debt, and I will pay
What I have promised--what more can I say?
Laws he would give another man one should
Obey himself, it's only right, our good
Text so requires. But I know very well
There's not one worthy tale that I could tell
That Chaucer (though he's not too good at meter,
And not too skillful in his rhyming either)
Has not been telling folks as best he can.
For quite a while, as known to any man."
The quotes above express the Sergeant of the Law's need to follow the rules or the guidelines because he basically says that he can not do it justice like Chaucer and doesn't wish to break the rules of "the game.
5. "He's told of lovers, paid them much attention,
Much more than Ovid ever made a mention
In his Epistles that are very old.
Why should I tell what's been already told?
"In youth, of Ceyx and Alcyone he wrote,
And since then has of everyone made note
Among the noblest wives, their lovers too.
Whoever reads his lengthy volume through,
The one called The Legend of Cupid's Saints,
Will find therein the great wounds and complaints:
Lucretia's; those of Babylonian Thisbe,
The sword of Dido (false Aeneas!); tree
Of Phyllis, who for Demophon would die;
Hermione's and Dejanira's cry,
Hypsipyle's, and that of Ariadne
(Left on that barren island in the sea);
Leander drowning for his love of Hero;
The tears of Helen, and also the woe
Of you, Briseis, and you, Laodamia;
The cruelty of you, O Queen Medea,
To hang your children, all for hatred of
Your Jason who was faithless in his love;
Alcestis, Hypermnestra, Penelope,
Your wifehood with the best commended he."
This collection of quotes above shows the vast knowledge the Sergeant of Law has in both regular scholar subjects and law subjects.
Question #2:
Personally, I believe that the Sergeant of the Law is used to satirize society because he is written has a perfect, cliche image of a lawyer. He follows the rules, intelligent, shrewd at times, proud, and even lazy. An example of those traits would be when the Sergeant goes on and on about various tales written by Chaucer (#5 in question one).
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