The Knight: An Idealized Medieval Figure

The Characters in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'

A section of "Canterbury Tales" mural, 1939, by Ezra Winter is situated on the west wall of the North Reading Room in the Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington. (L–R) the Host of Tabard Inn; the Knight, followed by his son, the young Squire, on a white palfrey; a Yeoman; the Doctor of Physic; Chaucer, riding with his back to the observer, as he talks to the Lawyer; and the Clerk of Oxenford, reading his beloved classics. (Public Domain)

A masterwork of poetic prose and one of the first-ever books written in English, the “Canterbury Tales” displays English cultural history, giving modern readers an insight into medieval society. And what better character to represent the ideal values of 14th-century England than a knight in shining armor?

Written by Geoffrey Chaucer from 1387 until his death in 1400, these 24 tales follow 31 pilgrims from different social classes and occupations on their journey from Southwark, London, to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. During their pilgrimage, they entertain themselves by telling each other varied tales. Through both their characters and tales, they give readers a glimpse into the different medieval social classes and their values.

Geoffrey Chaucer, author of "Canterbury Tales." (Public Domain)

An Embodiment of Noble Values

The Knight is the first to share his tale, as he is of the highest social order (nobility) among the pilgrims. Not only is he noble, but he also embodies noble values such as honor throughout his tale, which is in the style of a medieval romance featuring the themes of chivalry and courtly love.

His story is set in ancient Greece. Theseus, duke of Athens, returns home with his wife Hippolyta and her sister Emily. Upon his return, he sees a crowd of women mourning their husbands, killed by Creon. Theseus kills Creon and takes two knights as his prisoners: cousins Arcite and Palamon. After they’re imprisoned, they fall in love with Emily from their cell window and argue about who saw her first.

Arcite is released, and after several years, Palamon escapes from prison and challenges his cousin to a duel. Seeing this, Theseus tells the cousins to fight in a tournament for Emily’s hand in marriage. In the tournament, Palamon is wounded, and Theseus declares Arcite the winner. However, as Arcite rides towards Emily, his horse throws him and he dies. Theseus, believing in happiness after grief, gives Emily and Palamon his blessings to marry.

The Knight’s tale is considered a typical medieval romance, encapsulating the ideals of courtly love: Two knights fight for a beautiful and unattainable lady. The characters are idealized through their noble values. Theseus is noble, Emily is gentle, and the knights are chivalrous and ready to fight.

The first page of "The Knight's Tale" in the Ellesmere manuscript. (Public Domain)

The tale perfectly fits the character of the Knight himself. He chooses a story set in ancient times (common in medieval literature) with rules of honor and proper conduct, filled with knights, adventure, chivalry, and love: all knight-related themes.

As for the tale’s main hero, the Knight chooses Theseus, one of the most respected men in ancient Greek culture. He presents him as an ideal, embodying all ideal human virtues, just like the Knight is an embodiment of the ideal medieval virtues. Both are models for chivalry through values such as nobility, courage, courtesy, and leadership.

This tale gives the readers clues as to the noble values the Knight embodies, further confirmed throughout the narrator’s description of the character.

An Idealized Figure

Not only does the Knight convey ideal medieval values through his tale, but he himself is also a model medieval figure, as described by the narrator.

He is the most respected character of the “Canterbury Tales,” and one of the few characters not described ironically. Instead, the narrator truly admires him and describes him as a “most distinguished man,” with an impressive military career in the Crusades, whose ideals are “truth, honor, generousness and courtesy.”

Detail of the Knight on the first page of "The Knight's Tale" in the Ellesmere manuscript. (Public Domain)

The Knight is modest and humble, his temper is “meek as a maid,” and he is courteous in his manners, polite in his speech, and heroic in battles. However, he never talks about his brave deeds, and he fights for truth rather than for glory. Despite his noble stature, his physical appearance is understated. He travels in his stained uniform, never drawing attention to his social class: “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark.”

All the pilgrims admire the Knight. In the prologue to “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” the Knight asks to hear something more lighthearted, as “tragic falls” upset him. He wants to hear about men who start off low on the social scale and climb their way up instead, reinforcing his romantic character. The Knight also serves as a peacemaker at the end of “The Pardoner’s Tale,” when he breaks up a fight between the Host and the Pardoner.

Overall, the Knight represents ideal noble values, protecting his people, country, and faith. However, this mindset belonged to the past, and chivalry and knighthood had already lost their importance in 14th-century England. Chaucer sensed this shift in society and restored the reputation of knights through this idealized character. Though a figure of the past, the Knight remains one of the most memorable characters of the “Canterbury Tales” today.