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Merchant's Tale - Religion - Coggle Diagram
Merchant's Tale - Religion
Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon is a book of the Bible, which is quite anomalous as it is a series of erotic poems
in the Later Middle Ages, many interpretations emerged about what the Book was about
the main one that emerged was that it represented the relationship between Christ and the Church
the key point is that to interpret the tale as solely sexual was then considered blasphemous and ignorant
January does just this, by paraphrasing the Song of Solomon in a sexual way
this immediately establishes him as an ignorant character, whose authority and knowledge was not to be trusted
'A man may do not sin with his wyf, ne hurts himselven with his owner knyf'
This quote further showcases January's foolishness, as these are two things that can definitely happen
it is later discredited in the Parson's Tale
further, the first clause highlights January's blatant disregard of religious doctrines, as a man certainly could do sin with his wyf, as '
the only legitimate cause for sex was reproduction' (St Augustus)
Garden
the setting of the garden satirises religious values as it subverts expectations of a Christian Eden
Instead of being dwelled in by christian deities, it has Roman Gods Pluto and Proserpina in it
a previous version of the tale - the Italian Novellino, featured Christ and St Peter in the garden, so this change by Chaucer was conscious
it presents a dissonance in the garden, undermining the power of the christian elements
Further, Pluto and Proserpina amplify the dissonance of the garden, as:
'gardens were the settings for narratives of courtly love' (Dunlop)
and Pluto and Proserpina do not resemble the romantic courtly love, as Pluto actually kidnapped and 'ravysshed' her
Moreover, gardens in this time were seen as especially religious, because many linked walled gardens, or horti conclusi, with the Virgin Mary, with the walls symbolising her virginal nature
it is Brown who suggests the 'garden is a representation of May's body', as it is 'walled al with stoon'
thus, when the garden is opened with a suggestive 'wicket' and 'cricket' connoting penetration, May's body is left vulnerable to actual physical penetration
it is especially ironic that a walled garden, connoting the vrigin Mary, is then used for sex
however, the garden does have some eden-like qualities, as it has a man, a woman, and a temptation within. this is amplified by Damyan's name being similar to Demon.
yet, it is different to eden still, as the apple of the original sin is replaced by a pear in the pear tree, which is an especially sensual fruit as it resembles a woman's body
thus, the setting satirises religious values, by subverting the expectations of Eden, and making it have a more
'carnal atmosphere' (Brown)