The account of human life described and, at times, advocated throughout the Bible is a radically different vision from political philosophy offered to us in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. In the Bible, an infinitely distant God creates the world and then places humans in it. He is an artisan and a poet -He … Continue reading Political Theology in the Bible: An Exegesis
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Deprivation and Excess in The Tale of Sir Thopas and The Tale of Melibee
Chaucer, the pilgrim, is the only member of the group who is allowed to present a second tale on the way to Canterbury. He delivers his second tale following the failure of his minstrel song, "The Tale of Sir Thopas." The second tale is told in prose form. It is about a rich man named … Continue reading Deprivation and Excess in The Tale of Sir Thopas and The Tale of Melibee
On Chaucerian Irony in the Tale of Sir Thopas
Chaucer describes the whole group as "sobre" after the previous tale of martyrdom told by the Prioress. Then the Host starts joking and for the first time he looks down at the narrator -the fictional character of Chaucer, who is an unusually quiet and observant person. He is an intellectual: maladroit, moody, somber, soft, and … Continue reading On Chaucerian Irony in the Tale of Sir Thopas
A Hollow Story of Martyrdom In The Prioress’s Tale
In the "General Prologue" the nun, or "Prioress," is described as simple and coy. Her name is "madame Eglentyne" and her greatest oath is by "Saint Loy," or Saint Eligius, the patron saint of goldsmiths, metalworkers, and coin collectors. Perhaps the Prioress cares deeply for transient physical valuables. At any rate, she speaks French very … Continue reading A Hollow Story of Martyrdom In The Prioress’s Tale
History Contra Poetics in The Physician’s Tale
There is no introduction to "The Physician's Tale." We begin en media res. The tale cites as its source Titius Livius ("Livy") the great Roman historian, though Chaucer likely borrowed sections from The Romance of the Rose which he also partially translated. Unlike other tales, "The Physician's Tale" is not about unrequited love or the … Continue reading History Contra Poetics in The Physician’s Tale
Jesus and John the Baptist Briefly Mentioned in Josephus
Yosef ben Matityahu, better known by his Latin name Titus Flavius Josephus ("Josephus"), was a Jewish warrior, politician, and documentarian particularly of the early 1st century Jewish wars against the Romans. He came from a wealthy family in Jerusalem. In his twenties he was sent to help negotiate with Roman Emperor Nero for the release … Continue reading Jesus and John the Baptist Briefly Mentioned in Josephus
