NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Chaucer's The Physicians Tale was a moral tale because it deals with issues of right and wrong and it stands to teach a few lessons which everyone could interpret in their own way depending on whom the reader believes is responsible for the tragic death of the fair maiden Virginia. Among the lessons one might learn is, ye shall not covet thy neighbors daughter or assume themselves above the law because plotting to attain a young girl by force could get you thrown in jail and fill you with suicidal tendencies as it did Appius the crooked judge. Also, one should never assume to quickly that there are not more options than foreseeable in the immediate future as considering other situations besides shame or death might have also saved Virginias life. Appius, whom was widely known for being a less than honest judge, had decided to take the young, beautiful and virtuous Virginia for himself after seeing her in town one day in the company of her mother. He knew her reputation of being a true maiden and role model for any other girl or woman around but, he immediately was on a mission to have her.
His lust for the daughter of the noble knight, Virginius, had made Appius a danger to himself and all involved after falsely accessing Virginius of having stolen Virginia as a child from the master she was bound to as a slave. The whole scheme stunk for miles around. No one believed the accusation. Perhaps, the accusing Claudius had whispered the plan to a bird or maybe the judge had just really overstayed his welcome in town but, his ruling days were certainly over as the people arose together and threw him in prison where he figured if someone was going to kill him it might as well be him. There would have been a positive ending to the tale had Virginius and Virginia not decided to do a little ruling of their own. They had decided to take Virginias life and save her body and soul.
How could these Christians lack so much hope? They only saw two roads before them, one of a life of shame and one with no life at all. Both, in the end, were wrong. Had they not been so quick to run her under the sword, she could have been saved with the help of the townspeople who in the end brought as much justice as they could to the real guilty party.
In Chaucer's world, it appears that women were seen as worthless or no more than a useful set of wooden dishes that serve their purpose as quoted from The Wife of Bath. Except for her chastity, what part of her person could Virginia lose in the hands of the judge to make her loose her worthiness? As a whole, it is not very different from how women are judged today. In a new world where one is praised for being independent and self-sufficient, it is still by no means acceptable that a lady run around town acting like a man. Many factors could be to blame for the fate of the poor well bred Virginia.
One to blame could be the Gods. How dare they make her so beautiful and full of class. Certainly, we all can see that Appius just did what any man would have done had they been in a political position to do so. Or maybe, it was Virginia.
She must have rode into town with her nose in the air calling attention with lusty second glances. No, it must have been her father, Virginius. Who would bring upon the death of their child without God himself having commanded it? Well, according to Chaucer the author and a few other participants it might have been nature for making Virginia too perfect but at the pilgrim / participant point of view, it was the judge, the lawyer, and the blackguard.
Of course, it was those dirty politicians! Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: shame, blame, saved, virginias, virginia
Research essay sample on Virginias Life One Virginia
