Life Lessons to be learned from Miller’s Tale of Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

The Miller’s Tale

The Miller’s Tale is a bawdy and farcical story told by a drunken miller named Robin. It centers around a young carpenter named John, his beautiful wife Alison, and two men who both desire her: Nicholas, a clever student who lodges with John and Alison, and Absalom, a wealthy parish clerk with a flamboyant appearance.

Nicholas hatches a plan to take advantage of John’s shortsightedness (literally and figuratively) and spend a night with Alison. He convinces John to go on a pilgrimage overnight, claiming a flood will destroy Oxford if he doesn’t leave. Meanwhile, Nicholas arranges for Absalom to serenade Alison under her window that night. Through a series of hilarious mishaps, Nicholas climbs up to Alison’s window while John is away, and Absalom gets scalded with hot water meant for Nicholas.

The tale culminates in a chaotic scene where John returns early, Nicholas escapes through a back window with Alison clinging to him, and a scalded Absalom yells in pain. In the end, everyone is humiliated, and John is left the fool.

Lessons from The Miller’s Tale

1. Lust vs. Love: The story satirizes the destructive power of lust when it clouds judgment and overshadows genuine love.
2. Deception and its Consequences: Nicholas’ trickery results in chaos and humiliation for everyone involved, showing the negative consequences of deception.
3. Appearances Can Be Deceiving: Absalom’s flamboyant exterior doesn’t guarantee success in love, highlighting the importance of looking beyond appearances.
4. The Dangers of Credulity: John’s blind faith in Nicholas’ ridiculous story highlights the dangers of being too trusting.
5. Beware of Quick Fixes: Nicholas’ scheme may seem clever initially, but ultimately leads to a messy outcome, suggesting complex problems need more thought-out solutions.
6. The Importance of Communication: The lack of communication between John and Alison creates an opportunity for Nicholas’ trickery. Open communication can help avoid misunderstandings.
7. Consequences of Ignoring Responsibilities: John’s neglect of his marital responsibilities by readily leaving on a fake pilgrimage contributes to the trouble.
8. Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Absalom’s serenade ultimately fails, suggesting that genuine actions are more meaningful than empty gestures.
9. Everyone Makes Mistakes: The farcical nature of the characters’ actions reminds us that everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes humor can be found in them.
10. Beware of Taking Advantage of Others: Nicholas’ manipulation of John and Alison for his own gain highlights the importance of ethical behavior in relationships.

While the humor of the story is rooted in its bawdiness, the underlying lessons about human nature and the consequences of poor choices hold true even today.