The Canterbury Tales: The Merchant By: Lexi Nix

How a Merchant Fit Into Society in the Middle Ages Merchants played one of the most important roles in society by the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. By this time they were in the middle or upper class. This was because many people depended on merchants to purchase everyday necessities from such as sugar and spices. This was how merchants were paid and became wealthy and successful well beings. A merchant was poor or wealthy based on how successful he was. A merchant’s social class was much higher than that of a servant, slave, or peasant in the Middle Ages.

Profession of a Merchant in the Middle Ages In the medieval times, a merchant would sell products in a general store. However, many merchants also traveled from town to town selling different products to families. They would also sell there products at fairs and circuses. This is how a merchant made his living. Many people thought of merchants as traders and traffickers.

The Features/Apparel of a Merchant in the Middle Ages Some features/apparel of a merchant in the Middle Ages included: 1. a pattern button up 2. a long trench coat 3. a beaver hat 4. wool clothing with undergarments made of linen 5. they had long beards 6. colorful clothing * The way a wealthy merchant dressed in the Middle Ages depended on the trend of that time.

Personality of a Merchant in the Middle Ages Three quotes as to how Chaucer described a merchant in the Middle Ages: 1. “He was expert in dabbling exchanges.” (line 288) 2. This estimate Merchant so had set his wits to work, none knew he was in debt, he was so stately in administration, in loans and bargains and negotiation.” (line 289--293) 3. “He was an excellent fellow all the same.” (line 293)

How the Narrator of the Story Describes the Merchant The narrator describes Chaucer as being arrogant because he is unhappily married to his wife and constantly has affairs on her. He is a good person. He is very opinionated when it comes to the topic of marriage. The narrator describes the merchant as arrogant because he will not listen to his family, friends, or other townsfolk who tell him to leave his wife and get out of the marriage if he is so unhappy being with her. I would think Chaucer would describe the merchant as arrogant for staying with his wife as well because I think Chaucer would also agree for him to get a divorce and get out of the marriage instead of being unhappy the rest of his life and cheating on her.

One quote from The Canterbury Tales that Sums Up the Merchant “He told of his opinions and pursuits.” (line 284)

The Merchant’s Tale Summed Up In the story the narrator describes the merchant to be an old man in an unhappily marriage with his young wife of only two months. He is very opinionated when it comes to the topic of marriage. He basically does not want his young wife to find out he wants out of the marriage because he knows he is stuck with her for the rest of his life. He is a very unhappy person in the story because he regrets making the decision of marrying her.

A Modern Day Merchant A salesman can be a modern day equivalent to a merchant because they sell products like a merchant did in the Middle Ages. A salesman income is like a merchant’s. Their income is based on how much they sell.