The Mastery of the Mastered

Paper Summary:

The paper describes how in "The Clerk's Tale" and "The Second Nun's Tale," Chaucer depicts two women, Grisildis and Cecilie, who seem to be powerless over their harsh destinies and rulers. The paper shows, however, how Grisildis' and Cecilie's emotional, spiritual and intellectual power over themselves and others allows them to determine their own fates.

From the Paper:

"In both The Clerk's Tale and The Second Nun's Tale, Grisildis and Cecilie are heroines who are seemingly powerless, both due to their commitments to others; in Grisildis' case, Walter; and in Cecilie's case, Christ. Yet, it is on account of their power and self-mastery that those commitments are possible; both Grisildis' commitment to her husband (to never deny or contradict him in word or action) and Cecilie's commitment to her God, Christ, require constant self-mastery and self-denial. Both heroines are also introduced as possessing these very abilities."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Chaucer, Geoffrey. "The Canterbury Tales" The Riverside Chaucer. Ed. Larry D. Benson 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. (137-153, 262-269)
• Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2nd ed. 1989. Concordia University Lib., Montreal, QC. <http://dictionary.oed.com>.

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