Does Humor Play any Role in Real Life?

By JH Sayyar

Humor means the faculty of perceiving what is ludicrous in man. So pondering over the definitions made above, Chaucer is one of the greatest humorists not only of the 14th century but for all times also because he loved mankind ignoring their foibles and follies. He does not criticize the world but he wanted to reform the world through his writings. It is the sympathy of Chaucer with the people, not scorn with the people of the world.

Chaucer in the beginning of the Prologue mixed with all types of people at his father’s wine shop where he observed with a keen interest what was ludicrous in the man and woman’s character as a realist he points out people’ humorous behavior without any exaggeration.

Before Chaucer there was no concept of humor. Actually humor starts with the Prologue in English literature. Humor dominated the Prologue and seems each character full of inborn practical humor.

His humor is objective not subjective and a humorist will be a realist. To show real humor of his characters to the readers that he collects 29 members to be performed their annual pilgrim with their original traits, manners, habits, and dress wearing style while going to the Shrine. He starts humor with the Knight who loved honor, freedom, courtesy, truth and wisdom. His horse was fine but he himself was no fine. It seems that he was coming from the battlefield. As the text shows in bold words:

“He horse goode, he ne was gay

Of fustian he wered a gypon

For he was late yecome from viage”

After this he introduces The Squire to the readers what was ludicrous in his character when he was going to perform his pilgrim. He was a man of 20 year and wore red and white dress and all day sang songs for seducing girls of his age.

Among the woman- group he introduces Prioress who was simple in smiling and was called Madam Eglantine in her youth. She knew full etiquette how to trap man for sex and marry making. She also went to church to serve religious ceremonies. Her nose was long, eyes as gray as glass, and had a rosary in her hand to cheat people in practical field to hide her dark doings. As the text shows:

“Her nose tretys, her eyen greye as glas

Her mouth ful smal and therto soft and red

Of small coral about hire arm she bore”

On the other hand, the Wife of Bath wore a hat of ten pounds. The Reeve’s thin legs like a seagull, the Franklin’s weakness of drinking sharp soupe and under his arm he had a dagger and sword. The Wife of Bath was in search of new husband while the pilgrim to enjoy bed. As the text shows;

“She was a worth woman all hir lyve

Husbands at chirch doore she hadde fyve”

Further he shows that the Miller‘s beard was as white as Lily. He wore long dress and carried a mighty bow in his hands including a sword. Having read thoroughly the Prologue it seems that every character of the Prologue is full of humor bases on realism. It is right that it is a mixture of irony, satire and humor. Humor I an important part of human nature.

To sum up, in the Prologue Chaucer shows humor in characters, professions, dress,, manners of speaking , eating and drinking. At the end humor leads Chaucer to be the poet of man and humanity. So we can see all types of humor in our own age in every department of life. Actually his mission was to mend all the weaknesses of his age with positive criticism, not to laugh at the people of his age. So we call the Prologue a true record of the 14th century doings in the natural atmosphere.