‘How does Chaucer’s Prologue prepare us for ‘The Miller’s tale’?’
Chaucer introduces us to the Miller in the prologue, who appears to personify his own story. By introducing the Miller as a crude ruthless man Chaucer prepares for what is to come in the tale, we see his personality and which becomes the basis for the themes which run through the Miller’s tale. In the prologue we are introduced to the Miller’s views of women, his frustration with the Reeve and his insult to the church and they are all then continued through the tale.
The prologue is a conversation between The Miller and Harry Bailey, who as well as being the landlord is also the man who created the story telling contest and therefore would be seen as the authoritative figure in the novel. When the Miller interrupts to give his story we see him challenging the authority of Harry for it is not his turn to speak, this is an insight into his personality and that of the story which he is to tell. We see him challenging those whom have power during the tale by striking out against The Church. We see the preparation for this disregard of The Church’s authority in the prologue for it is in front of the monk, a member of the group, that the Miller speaks. This is showing great disrespect for as a religious figure the monk would be seen as the Miler’s superior. This can relate to how the only member of the clergy in the tale is one who is thought of as inferior to everyone else. It would be thought of as disrespectful towards the monk top tell his tale, not only for the acts which take place but also because of the creation of Absolon. The Miller’s creation ridicules The Church, showing them to be chauvinistic and fools; though this was a wide spread view of The Church at the time, however through fear it would be unwise to voice this opinion. The Miller was introduced as a brave man and how he is physically capable as well as being able to break doors with his head. This shows that he takes problems head on and will not skirt around an issue such as The Church. Of all the members of the group we see more of Chaucer’s own voice in the Miller and this is shown through the Miller’s more contemporary ways of thinking as it has been said countless times that Chaucer too was born before his time.
"Je, Prologue ya Chaucer inatuandaaje kwa ""Hadithi ya Miller?"" Chaucer anatutambulisha kwa Miller katika prologue, ambaye anaonekana kufananisha hadithi yake mwenyewe. Kwa kuanzisha Miller kama mtu mkali, Chaucer anajiandaa kwa kile kitakachokuja katika hadithi, tunaona utu wake na ambayo inakuwa msingi wa mandhari ambayo huendesha hadithi ya Miller. Katika utangulizi, tunajifunza maoni ya Miller juu ya wanawake, kukatishwa tamaa kwake na Reeve na kudhihaki kanisa, na yote yanaendelea katika hadithi. Prologue ni mazungumzo kati ya Miller na Harry Bailey, ambaye pamoja na kuwa mwenye nyumba pia ni mtu ambaye aliunda mashindano ya hadithi na kwa hivyo angeonekana kama mtu mwenye mamlaka katika riwaya. Miller anapomkatiza ili kutoa hadithi yake, tunamwona akipinga mamlaka ya Harry kwa sababu sio zamu yake kusema, hii ni ufahamu wa utu wake na hadithi ambayo anasimulia. Tunamwona akiwashutumu wale walio na nguvu wakati wa hadithi kwa kushambulia Kanisa. Tunaona maandalizi ya kupuuza mamlaka ya Kanisa katika utangulizi kwa sababu ni mbele ya mtawa, mwanachama wa kikundi, kwamba Miller anazungumza. Hii inaonyesha ukosefu mkubwa wa heshima kwa kuwa kama mtu wa kidini mtawa angeonekana kama mkuu wa Miler. Hii inaweza kuhusiana na jinsi mwanachama pekee wa makasisi katika hadithi ni mmoja ambaye anafikiriwa kuwa wa chini kuliko wengine wote. "Hii itakuwa kama kukosa heshima kwa mtawa juu ya hadithi yake, si tu kwa vitendo ambavyo hufanyika, lakini pia kwa sababu ya uumbaji wa ""Absalom.""" Uumbaji wa Miller unadharau Kanisa, ukiwaonyesha kuwa wachafu na wapumbavu; ingawa hii ilikuwa maoni ya Kanisa yaliyopatikana sana wakati huo, hata hivyo kwa hofu haingekuwa busara kutoa maoni haya. Miller ni mtu mwenye ujasiri na mwenye uwezo wa kuvunja milango kwa kichwa chake. Hilo laonyesha kwamba yeye huchukua matatizo moja kwa moja na hatapuuza suala kama vile Kanisa. "Kutoka kwa wanachama wote wa kikundi tunaona sauti ya Chaucer mwenyewe zaidi katika Miller na hii inaonyeshwa kupitia njia za Miller za kisasa za kufikiri kama ilivyosemwa mara nyingi kwamba Chaucer pia alizaliwa kabla ya wakati wake. """