11.August.2010
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My favorite thing today is Mary Kay’s Pac-Man red ghost broach and Fran’s fancy new white and black dress.
My next favorite thing was class where we discussed the Second Nun’s Tale as well as the Canon Yeoman’s Tale.
My least favorite thing is that our time in London with Susanna and David is almost over.
The Second Nun’s Tale is a serious tale of hagiography describing the works of St. Cecilia. It is an interesting and curious tale to look at in relation to (1) other women pilgrim’s tales (Wife of Bath and Prioress) and/or (2) other serious religious tales (Name of Law’s Tale and Prioress).
We spent quite a bit of time comparing the Prioress’ prologue to the Second Nun. While there is a certain reverence for Mary in both, the Prioress and Second Nun clearly differ in their approach and “personal” understanding. The Prioress’ understanding seems to be perhaps more “simplistic” and hegemonic, whereas the Second Nun seems to “own” the complicated nature of Mary as wife, mother, daughter of the triune God (son, holy spirit, God).
Similarly when set against the Prioress’ Tale, the Second Nun’s tale gains depth and grit. Cecilia is portrayed as a serious, earnest, almost pushy didacticism compared to the Prioress’ pathetic Christian boy killed by Jews.
Interesting also is that Cecilia causes Almachius to become “naked” through her rhetoric (thanks Emily for pointing this out!). And although Almachius tries, he is unable to torture or kill her until the third day, when she is ready. Her head will not be severed from her body, the boiling bath only makes her cool.
The Canon Yeoman’s Tale presents us with an interesting interruption in the tale. In comes a rider in black with white surplice. He is shifty and perhaps a con. Is he Satan (also portrayed as a yeoman or some other intercessor). The tale the Yeoman tells is of an avaricious alchemist who cannot quite get things to work. Is the tale metaphor for science? Or a metaphor for the transformative act of art…Hopefully we’ll get to finish this discussion tomorrow.
