The Miller's Macabre Microcosm

One of the more fascinating aspects of Chaucer’s Tales is his ability to dance around the issue of class tension and propriety with such alacrity and humor. We see from the second story, The Miller’s Prologue and Tale, that there is a disruption in the order of storytelling. If the stories had descended in caste order, as it had started with the noblest Knight, then the Miller would have had to wait his turn. But he doesn’t. He has a drunken fit and even threatens to leave if he doesn’t get his way. His story- framed by perfuse apology from both character and narrator- is coarse, sexual and involves a cuckold relationship of two young sleuths who get caught and receive their justice in the end. (Pardon the tasteless pun.)

This rather vile but wholly entertaining anecdote could represent a microcosm of a much larger mutual attitude of disgust between the wealthy and the poor. I imagine Chaucer, or the narrator, playing a sort of neutral middle man between the two classes. I liken it to modern day South Park. It’s bawdy and offensive and there’s enough satire to keep both sides offended and entertained. The old man in they could represent the Old Money and aristocracy of Britain at the time. He’s a presented as a snooty curmudgeon, who gets what he wants and is extremely jealous, as is common with cuckolds in British literature. The boy, on the other hand is young and intelligent, but must rely financially on the old man. This is a bone clearly thrown to the lower class. Especially since the boy ends up getting with the old kook’s wife and even manages to turn her briefly against her husband. To balance out the overwhelming  victory scored by the young man, the old man ends up branding his buttocks, leaving him with a permanent mark of humility.

So, at first, it kind of looks like the tale favors the young man. He tricks the mean guy and gets the girl and still manages to get away with his life. But then we recall that the credibility of the entire tale is undercut but who’s telling it. If this story was being told in the rich dining hall to educated and wealthy aristocracy, it would serve as a crass reminder of how depraved and disgusting the common folk could be. If it was regaled in a packed tavern, it would be good for a nice drunken laugh. Either way both sides win, lose and feel a little bit gross for having heard it.