Script Analysis.
The Canterbury Tales by Mike Poulton.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
·
The
Canterbury Tales is Geoffrey Chaucer’s comment on his society and the people in
his society. His stories enable him to represent different classes and each
character’s tale subtly tells the reader more about them allowing Chaucer to
represent traits of these people without actually saying it himself.
·
His
tales give us an idea of how in the middle ages your status, birth and choices
that you make can drastically affect your life and how you are perceived and
treated.
·
Everyone
in this period would have been Roman Catholic, as was Chaucer.
Themes.
·
Storytelling:
The Canterbury Tales is all about sharing stories with other people. Each of
the tales has a moral to it and reflects the character and thoughts of that
particular person.
·
Religion:
Christianity and the church were extremely important in the middle ages. The whole
point of life was to live to please God and consequently get into heaven and
the most popular way of doing this was via pilgrimage. The church was very
wealthy and consequently some figures within it were corrupt.
·
Hierarchy,
Class and Nobility: Throughout the Canterbury Tales there is evidence of how
all people had their place and station in society and could not make comments
about those above them. This was very restricting and it was hard for someone
of low birth to rise to a higher station.
·
Travel:
The pilgrims are travelling to reach Canterbury.
·
Dedication:
They are all dedicated to their religion and to reaching Canterbury. They have
all been brought together by this dedication.
Mike Poulton.
·
He created
a version of The Canterbury Tales
that he designed to be spoken by actors and heard and enjoyed by audiences.
·
Mainly
stays true to the pronunciation of the period and original writing.
·
Created
from two old editions of Chaucer – Skeat at school and Robinson at university,
both published by Oxford University Press.
Pilgrims and
their Tales.
Play One.
·
Knight: The knight is of very high status and
consequently Chaucer is below him. In the original he describes him as worthy
over and over until it loses all meaning. Rank and status were so restricting
in that period that you could not make a bad comment about someone above you.
Chaucer goes on to list the battles that the knight has fought in, which makes
a very long list. The knight’s tale is a romantic story of love and honour. It
is quite fantastical as Palamon and Artica fall in love with Emilee at first
sight without knowing anything about her.
·
Miller: Corn was extremely vital to create good
flour in the medieval period and consequently the Miller had a very important
job. However in the original Chaucer hints of how he takes advantage of
people’s basic need for flour and charges three times what it’s worth. Chaucer can
say what he likes about the Miller as he is of low birth. He is described as
rude, rough, dirty, greedy, sly, cunning, brash and with a fiery temper. The
Miller’s tale is all about tricking people and the consequences of marrying
someone much younger, more attractive and cleverer than you.
·
Reeve: He represented as bad tempered and a
bully with a thin and boney body. Chaucer (narrator) describes him as unmanly
and almost asexual. He rides at the back of the group as he is anti-social and
he likes to make himself look like a priest so that people think he is of high
religious status. He takes advantage of his young lord and steals money from
him very cleverly and slyly. He just hoards all this money. He is from Norfolk
and in that period people from there were considered to be greedy. He
represents greed and lust for money. The Reeve’s tale is very spiteful and
created just to get at the Miller.
·
Cook: He is described as greasy and dirty and
is very rude. The Cook’s tale is all about drinking and sex and therefore he is
interrupted and told to stop by the noble Knight and very polite Prioress.
·
Monk: Chaucer (narrator) really doesn’t want to
hear the Monk’s tale, as he knows it will be extremely dull, perhaps commenting
on the unrealistic ideology of the Monk’s of that period. The Monk ends up
telling many tragedies, which makes the rest of the pilgrims fall asleep. The
host thinks he should have a wife and this would make him less boring.
·
Man
of Law: Chaucer (narrator)
ridicules the Man of Law, who criticizes Chaucer and his writing. Chaucer (narrator)
says he is not as witty as he thinks and the reader tends to agree with him and
feel as though they are sharing a joke with Chaucer. His tale is one of
jealousy and envy of someone who is a very good person. The moral of his tale
is if you remain constant to your faith then everything will come good in the
end.
·
Shipman: The Shipman is very well travelled and
clever but is described as having no conscience. The moral of his tale is to
beware of what people say and don’t spend easily or get into debt.
·
Prioress: In Chaucer’s original tales, he describes
in great detail how the Prioress behaves. She takes great pains to be very
polite and courteous; she is presented as a bit ridiculous. She is also described,
as having a large forehead, which was considered quite attractive in the
medieval period and was something that a nun should have covered up, not displayed.
This hints at her vanity. She keeps with her a lapdog that she feeds the finest
foods, showing a selfish side when she should be more concerned with helping
the poor. Her tale is all about the piety and innocence of children and it is
also very anti Jewish. Chaucer (narrator) finds it all extremely absurd.
·
Nun’s
Priest: His tale about
being wary of flattery and vanity and taking heed of dreams.
Play Two.
·
Chaucer: The narrator of the script, he is called
Chaucer yet you cannot take his opinions as Chaucer’s because he is another
character. It is interesting that Chaucer chose to include himself firstly as a
character and secondly as one who couldn’t tell tales and is silent and sullen
towards the other characters. It makes the script very funny, as when The Man
of Law is criticizing the real Chaucer the reader feels as if they’re sharing a
joke with him. It could also be a clever way for him to give his opinions on
the characters and their personalities without saying so outright. The Narrator
is always giving his impressions of the other characters, which says a lot
about him as well as the characters themselves. Throughout the play the Knight keeps
asking Chaucer (narrator) who he is as he finds this character irritating and
unnerving. This suggests that being of high class he expects people to give him
a straight answer right away. Chaucer (narrator) is forced by the other
characters to tell a tale and when he does so it is bad and he is told to stop.
This is very amusing as the real Chaucer wrote all the tales and created all
the characters.
·
Pardoner: Chaucer (narrator) thinks this character
is very queer. The nature of a pardoner is to make money from people’s fears
and he is presented as someone very cunning. His tale is about being wary of
money and greed, which seems ironic for his profession.
·
Physician: Chaucer (narrator) tells us that this
character is corrupt as he deliberately lies to patients and makes them wait
and pay more. The moral of his story was every sin has its reward.
·
Wife
of Bath: She is a
character who has worked hard to improve her position in society. The only way
a woman could better herself was by marrying above her. She is a worldly woman
who has had 5 husbands. She is passionate, determined, flirtatious and obsessed
with men, as she says herself she is on the lookout for husband number 6. The
description Chaucer makes of her outfit shows she has pride in her material
wealth. She wears a wimple because she thinks she is pious and has a huge hat
to show her status and wealth. She is also described as having gapped teeth,
which was considered to signal a good lover in the medieval period. Her tale is
about a lusty bachelor who has to find out what all women want. Only when he is
truly considerate and humble does he get his reward. Is this her idea of the
perfect man/husband?
·
Friar: In the middle ages friars had little
respect from other people as they were considered to be out for what they could
get, making friends with wealthy men and flirting with their wives. His tale is
made to annoy the Summoner and includes a devil figure dressed like a yeoman in
a jerkin of forest green, and a hat with black feathers and arrows bright and
keen.
·
Clerk
of Oxenford: His tale is
all about testing a wife to her absolute limit to see if she is truly faithful
to her husband; in the tale she is.
·
Merchant: His tale is about keeping your wife close
otherwise she will betray you and also not to marry in haste. Marry in haste
repent at leisure.
·
Squire: The squire can’t remember any of the
names in his story and mumbles before being told to stop. He is not
particularly clever and is forgiven because he is young and the Knight’s son.
·
Franklin: A Franklin was a freeman who owned his
own land, considered to be just below gentry. His tale is about staying true to
your wife/husband and that love triumphs over adversity.
·
Manciple: A Manciple was someone who was in charge
of the purchase and storage of food. His tale is a Grecian tale of how the crow
became black for unveiling an adulterer.
Facts based before
the Play begins.
·
Who? Pilgrims.
·
What?
The pilgrims are on their way to Canterbury, each is going to tell a tale on
the way and a supper will be bought for the person who told the best tale when
they return.
·
Where?
Earth, England, Southwark, The Tabard.
·
When?
14th Century, April.
·
How
do I show this in the production?
Concept.
·
My costume designs are an ideal of what I want
for each character. I realise that many will have to be hired in the autumn but
having an ideal design will help me to choose the correct garments.
·
The concept for my set design is that it has
been made with the view that we are creating a physical theatre piece. The set
is designed to be used and manipulated to create the tales as if the pilgrims
have stopped off at a tavern and are telling their tales. This idea was clear
from the first meeting with the director and I developed it from there.
Set:
o Flooring: I
wanted to have something quite interesting for the flooring that would draw the
audience’s eyes in and create a bit more interest than a straightforward wooden
floor. The centre will always be covered but I think the effect I want will
still be achieved; the table will become the focal point which is good.
o There will be
brooms under the table and on set – for the fighting in the knight’s tale.
o The benches and
their coverings can be used to create different set ideas and some of the
simple draping costumes.
o Trunks of the pilgrim’s
luggage which they have brought with them on pilgrimage will contain costume
changes.
o There will be 2
sets of tavern signs (so all audience members can see) that will be changed
when a new tale is being told. One for each character that tells a tale. This
will create a nice transition for the audience.
o Long benches at
either end for the actors/actresses to sit on when they’re not in the tales.
The audience will feel like they’re part of the play, watching the tales being
played out.
o Simple flags
flown down or possibly a couple of characters could drape them from the
mezzanine floor. These will be used to create the idea of a jousting match
during the Knight’s tale. A grate will also be carried around by the characters
playing Artica and Palamon to give an idea of them being in jail and also this
will give a very comedic effect.
·
The idea behind the costumes for the different
tales’ characters is that a combination of coverings from the set and the
pilgrims ‘luggage’ or items brought with them will be used.
·
To create the idea of different worlds I have
developed simple ideas that give a hint of, for example, a sultan’s palace and
I have also thought about how the audience will see, experience and interpret
this.
·
I did in-depth research to inform my designs and
really thought about how to use this knowledge within the context of the piece.
My experimentation also really helped to inform my design decisions.
Costumes:
o Chaucer:
This costume is indicative of Chaucer. He will also stand out among the group
as he is the only one in full black and the only one who doesn’t take on parts
in the tales. I wanted the audience to see him as the other pilgrims do; who is
that person making only those sarcastic comments? And yet, adding to the comedy,
his costume makes it clear he is Chaucer.
o Host:
The initiator of the tales, he is a friendly chap. His costume shows his status
yet the practicality of it reflects his character and occupation.
o Knight:
High class and extremely noble. His dress reflects his class and the cut
accentuates his nobility and strength.
o Squire: Young and
naïve. He wears some similar colours and garments to his father as it was
customary for high class people to dress in the colours of their family as a
kind of medieval code. The hose, hat and sleeves show his young nature in that
he wants to be as fashionable as possible, yet the way he wears them shows
naivety.
o Yeoman: His dress is practical
as his work requires it. My inspiration for his costume also came from the
other characters he was going to play in the tales and also how he would appear
against the others in the group (status etc).
o Monk: He is fond of
hunting and his dress reflects that, as I took inspiration from medieval
hunting dress.
o Reeve: He is mean,
manipulative and negative therefore I put him in grey and grey/blue. His dress
is simple as he does not spend money but hoards it. His cap is reversible
showing his mean nature and this is also how he represents the Pope in the Man
of Law’s Tale.
o Miller: Jolly, yet
rude and untrustworthy. I have drawn him with his hand behind his back to
accentuate this as Chaucer hints in the prologue of the original Canterbury
Tales that he is not to be trusted. His costume is bold yet simple showing his
class, with a pointed hood to show his mischievous nature.
o Cook: Very rude and
a bit disgusting. He is greasy and dirty and his clothes are very simple. In
bright red he can’t be missed and the cross stitch lacing shows his loose morals.
o Man
of Law: Well educated, he has opinions and doesn’t mind sharing them much to
Chaucer’s (narrator’s) distaste. The two colours and layering accentuate his
class and learning. This is my ideal for this character but the effect could
still be achieved with just the short cape.
o Nun’s
Priest: Humble and effeminate his costume reflects this. His tale is all about
bewaring of vanity and the simplicity of his dress shows this. The only
interesting detail is his cap, hinting at his own vanity and his wariness of
the trait.
o Prioress: Vain and a bit
ridiculous, her tale is extreme. My concept for the puppets is that she painstakingly
made them and carries them with her everywhere so she can tell her tale to
children and make comments through them wherever she goes. Her costume is
complex in cut but simple in colour, this shows her status as a religious
figure. I think it would highlight the ridiculously polite nature of her behaviour
and her vanity if she carried round a lapdog puppet with her that looked grumpy.
Other members of the cast could randomly bark to add to the comedy of her
character.
o The
Wife of Bath: She is an exaggeration of womanhood and is very overtly sexual,
opinionated and not afraid to say what she thinks. For her costume I wanted to
accentuate this, making it big and bold, also to show her status. I put her in
very feminine colours to accentuate her womanly demeanour.
o Shipman: I designed
this costume to cover any aspects that would give away that he is a woman and I
also wanted to evoke imagery of the sea and therefore his profession. Being
well travelled I also wanted to give a cultured feel to his dress.
o Alison
(Miller’s Tale): A primrose waiting to be plucked, as described
by the Miller, I chose to dress her in this colour. The cross laced front shows
her loose morals and she wears the apron of a carpenter’s wife. Her headdress
shows her vanity and being a married woman her hair should be completely
covered.
o Emilee
(Knight’s Tale) and Constance (Man of Law’s Tale) etc Costume: I designed something
quite simple and feminine for these characters that could be dressed up or down
to get the sense of the change in status. I chose an interesting trim so that
it didn’t look too plain. On page 23 of the script the Knight says "and with him fair Hippoloyta the Queen and eke Emilya, clothed all in green". I chose not to dress her in green because I thought it would add to the comedic and accidental nature of the play for the Knight to say that line and then for her to look at her dress and grimace and look embarrassed as the female pilgrim playing Emilee has worn the wrong coloured dress.
o Nun’s Priest’s
Tale: To represent chickens whilst still keeping the context of the
piece I chose simple red gloves. Chauntecleer stands out as a cockerel by having
a glove underneath his chin and Pertelote stands out as the prettiest hen as
her glove is of a more vibrant red and she is decorated with flowers. For the
floral garlands of this play I chose simple muslin fabric, as I wanted it to
look like one of the female pilgrims had made them. To represent the fox I was
inspired by traditional medieval pilgrim dress and by simply having a gradient
from black to orange this give a sense of a foxes ears and fur. There is also
one cockerel feather in his cap as if to say there was one who didn’t get away.
This represents the fox whilst still being something that could belong to one
of the pilgrims.
o Northumbrian
Group (Man of Law’s Tale): To show that the tale had moved into a harsher
climate I chose tartan checks. This also makes it clear from the audience who
the characters are and that they are from a very different world to the
sultan’s environment.
o Sultan Group
(Man of Law’s Tale): This was an opportunity to put some vibrant
colours and exotic looking fabrics in the play and this is how I represented
this group. I think these fabrics would be something the shipman or merchant
might carry around with them on pilgrimage to sell to the other pilgrims.
o Roman and Greek
group (Knight’s and Man of Law’s Tale): For these characters they
will create their costumes from the coverings on the benches and any ‘spare’
ones kept under the tables in the tavern.
o Weeping Queens
(Knight’s Tale): I gave them black headdresses to show that they are
grieving and laurel wreaths to show they are queens. I thought it might add to
the comedic effect if they had long veils which they lift off when they speak
as the audience will then see that one of them is a man.
