CLERKS
During the medieval times there were few groups of educated people and clerks were one of them. The clerks did prestigious jobs such as “bookkeeping and accounts for nobles” (Blackwell). During the Medieval Times doing work for a person of great importance took knowledge. Clerks where also generally skillful and innovative people who could also “teach at universities” (Blackwell) which fostered the next generation of Clerks.
The occupation of a Clerk was clearly reflected in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In the “Miller’s Tale,” the skillful clerk, Nicholas, shows his cleverness when he tells John, “Now, John … It calls for haste, not preaching or delaying” (97). Here, Nick convinces John to hide in the attic while he makes love to his wife. He is very cunning and smart about how he explains his plan because he uses John’s religious views and values to catch his attention. The Clerk from the church also represents his intelligence when he is able to think quickly. When Alison and Nick are irritating him, the first person he sees is a black smith. The black smith gives him hot iron and he “smotes him in the middle of the rump” (105). He utilizes his surrounding resources to achieve revenge. In the Miller’s Tale, the clerks reflect the intelligence of medieval times through their actions and their dialogue.
The occupation of a Clerk was clearly reflected in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In the “Miller’s Tale,” the skillful clerk, Nicholas, shows his cleverness when he tells John, “Now, John … It calls for haste, not preaching or delaying” (97). Here, Nick convinces John to hide in the attic while he makes love to his wife. He is very cunning and smart about how he explains his plan because he uses John’s religious views and values to catch his attention. The Clerk from the church also represents his intelligence when he is able to think quickly. When Alison and Nick are irritating him, the first person he sees is a black smith. The black smith gives him hot iron and he “smotes him in the middle of the rump” (105). He utilizes his surrounding resources to achieve revenge. In the Miller’s Tale, the clerks reflect the intelligence of medieval times through their actions and their dialogue.