The Franklin!!!

The Canterbury Tales

The Franklin
By Craig Bartlett

Info About the Franklin:
 The Franklin is described as being free spirited and wealthy. (although not born a noble)
 Within his description in the prologue it says:
 “For he was true son of Epicurus,”
 Referring to the philosopher Epicurus who taught that pleasure was the goal in life.
 Although he may be seen as gluttonous the Franklin is also described as being generous and a patron of hospitality.
 He is an unlearned man with poor speech.
 Physically the Franklin is an aged, heavy man with a long white beard.

The Tale!!!
 First the narrator says it takes place in “old Armorica, now Brittany.”
 The tale begin with the happy marriage of the Breton knight Arviragus to Dorigen.
 Neither of the two was master or servant in their marriage. (Neither wore the pants in the relationship)
 Soon after their marriage, Arviragus was sent away to Britain to work for two years.
 Dorigen wept for his absence.
 Her friends would often take her on walks where they would pass the cliffs overlooking the ocean and watch ships enter the port
 They hoped that one of them would bring home her husband.
 Dorigen was distressed by the rocks visible from the cliff-side, near to the shore.
 Dorigen feared that whatever ship brought her husband home would crash on these rocks and sink.
 One day, her friends had organized a party and a dance in a garden.
 At this dance a man named Aurelius, a squire, attended.
 He was one of the most handsome men alive and a good singer and dancer.
 Aurelius had secretly had been in love with Dorigen for two years, but had never dared tell her how he felt.
 During the dancing Aurelius addressed Dorigen.
 Aurelius then wished that he, and not Dorigen’s husband, had been sent across the sea, before begging her to have mercy on him and revealing his love.
 Dorigen responded by telling him that she would never be an untrue wife, and had no intention of cuckolding her husband. (Cuckolding = the husband of an unfaithful wife.)
 And then in Playful fun, Dorigen added that she would be Aurelius’ love on the day that all of the rocks were removed from the coast.
 This made Aurelius sigh heavily because he thought this was impossible.
 The dance ended and the guests went home, except for Aurelius, who fell to his knees and prayed to the gods for mercy.
 Arviragus finally returned from being away.
 Dorigen was delighted to have him back.
 Aurelius was out of ideas so he contacted a student of law at Orleans.
 This student was versed in the sciences of illusion.
 Heading toward Orleans, Aurelius came across a young clerk, roaming by himself, who greeted him in Latin, and claimed to know why he came.
 And before Aurelius went a step further, he told him exactly what they were travelling to achieve.(creepy)
 Aurelius leapt down from his horse, and went with this man to his house.
 He fed Aurelius and showed him wondrous illusions of various kinds.
 The man eventually agreed to remove the rocks from the coast for a thousand pounds.
 Aurelius responded “Never mind a thousand pounds! I’d give you the wide world!”, and promised to pay the man.
 The next morning, Aurelius and the young clerk made it so for a week or two the rock will appear missing.
 Aurelius, who now knew that there was no obstacle to his deal with Dorigen, then said grateful prayers.
 Aurelius explained to Dorigen, in courtly, formal terms, how he had fulfilled their bargain.
 Dorigen stood astonished, entirely white; never thinking that such an occasion could arise, and went home, despairing.
 Arviragus was out of town
 Dorigen realized that she must forfeit either her body or her reputation.
 She thought about the numerous instances in which a faithful wife destroyed herself rather than submitting herself to another.
 When Arviragus returned home, Dorigen told him what had happened.
 Arviragus told Dorigen that he will bear the shame of her actions, and that adhering to her promise is the most important thing.
 He therefore sent her to submit to Aurelius.
 When Aurelius learned how well Arviragus had accepted his wife's promise, Aurelius decided to let Dorigen's promise go unfulfilled.
 Aurelius claimed that a squire can indeed be as honorable as a knight.
 When Aurelius went to pay the law student, the man forgave Aurelius' debt, proving himself honorable.
 The narrator ends the tale by posing the question to the assembled company:
 “Who was the most generous/noble, do you think?”


- Craig Bartlett