1. “The Physician’s Tale”
The Canterbury Tales
“The Physician’s Tale”

2. The Physician Man who loved gold
He believes that gold is good for the heart
He knew the cause of every illness, what humor engenders them, and how to cure them.
Studied the teaching of the famous doctors of antiquity.
In league with the apothecary—worked with the pharmacist to make more money off of people.
“All his apothecaries in a tribe
Were ready with the drugs he would prescribe,
And each made money from the other’s guile;
They had been friendly for a goodish while.”

3. The Physician
He had good knowledge about astrology so he could calculate planetary positions.
Medieval medicine was based on the classical notion of 4 humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile)
People believed that diseases were caused by an imbalance in these humors.
Diseases were cured by restoring this balance.

4. The Physician
His life is based on moderation in his diet and rejection of excess
Being a man of science, he didn’t read the Bible
Made a lot of money working during the Plague
Clad in red and blue
“In blood-red garments, slashed with bluish-gray / And lined with taffeta, he rode his way;”

5. The Tale
“The Physician’s Tale” is considered one of the moral tales, along with the Pardoner’s tale and the Knight’s tale. Sometimes, these moral tales are called parables.
Exemplum: moral anecdote, brief or
extended, that teaches a moral lesson.

6. The Tale
This is a domestic drama about the relationship between a daughter and her father and it is one of the earliest extant poems in English about such subjects and relationships. The tale comes from the Histories of Titus Livius and is retold in The Romance of the Rose, John Gower's Confessio Amantis which Chaucer drew on for inspiration along with the biblical story of Jephtha. Most of the other versions of the story focused on the cruel and arbitrary officials but Chaucer was far more concerned with the daughter as the central figure.

7. The Tale
This is the only tale not linked to the others by dialogue amongst the pilgrims.
Chaucer took the story of Virginius and his daughter from Le Roman de la Rose, making a noticeable change only in the killing of Virginia. In the original, Virginius beheads the maiden in public, while Chaucer makes the killing a private matter.
That virtuous women prefer death to sexual dishonor is the obvious theme of this tale. It may also be observed that the horrible outcome points to the horror which results when justice is corrupted.
Virginius represents true justice while Appius personifies justice corrupted.

8. The Tale
The Host enjoys the tale and feels for the daughter but asks the Pardoner for a more merry tale.
The Pardoner obliges, and his tale has a similar but contrasting moral message.

9. Characters of the Tale Virginius  noble knight Apius  crooked judge
Claudius  reputed criminal
Virginia  the knight’s daughter

10. The Legend of Virginia
There once was a rich courageous Knight named Virginius who had a beautiful fourteen year-old daughter. Her beauty was matched by her kindness and modesty.
In the town was a judge named Apius who was obsessed with having this beautiful girl. He obtained the services of a criminal man named Claudius in order to kidnap Virginia. Claudius accused the Knight of having stolen a servant girl from his house and pretending that she was his daughter. Apius, the judge, ruled against the Knight and took the girl as a Ward of Court. Sadly, Virginius returned home and told his daughter what has happened.

11. Virginius, after an excruciating speech to his daughter, decided to kill her, and at the end, the daughter realized that she had to die to save her honor.
The Knight cuts off his daughter’s head with his sword and, holding it by the hair, takes it to the judge. The judge orders that the Knight be hanged for murder, but the people of the town interceded, being aroused to the judge’s treachery.
The judge was led into prison where he eventually commits suicide, and the mob wishes to hang Claudius for his evil work.
The Knight interceded, suggesting he should be exiled, which was carried out.
The Physician finishes his tale with the moral that every sin has a punishment and all should confess their sins.

12. Figurative Language Paradox Lines 221-222
“O daughter who’s become my final woe, / And in my life my final joy also,”
Line 225
“For love, and not for hate, you must be dead,”
Simile
Line 209
“With face as deathlike as the ashes cold,”
Personification:
Lines
“At once into his heart the devil ran / And taught him right away just how he might / This maiden to his purpose win by sleight.”

13. Symbolism
The names Virginius and Virginia are symbolic. They symbolize the virtuousness both father and daughter possess.
The name Apius is ironic. The judge’s name suggest he is a man of piety or demonstrates piousness, a quality which he completely lacks.
Virginius symbolizes justice; he would rather take his daughter’s life to spare her from tarnishing her image and virtuousness. He succeeds in preventing Apius from breaking the law.
Apius symbolizes corrupt justice. As a judge, he is in a position where he should be enforcing the law and protecting the innocent. Instead, he violates the law by abusing his power and authority to harm an innocent female and her family.

14. Themes/Morals
“The Physician’s Tale” teaches the following morals/lessons:
Those who commit sins or evil acts will be punished.
Karma catches up with you.
Justice will always be served.
Everyone should confess their sins.

15. The Legend of Virginia (1498) Sandro Botticelli