The Canterbury Tales · Chapter
Pars Sexta explained
The Earl of Panic arrives with Walter's supposed new wife, who is actually his daughter.
What happens
The Earl of Panic arrives with Walter's supposed new wife, who is actually his daughter. Griselda, unaware, humbly serves and prepares the household for the wedding. Walter reveals the truth: the children are alive, and Griselda is his only wife. The family is reunited in joy, and Griselda is restored to honor. The tale concludes with a moral on constancy in adversity.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage and Sovereignty
Walter's absolute authority over Griselda and the household is central, yet the tale ultimately affirms marital harmony through Griselda's steadfastness.
Fortune and Providence
Griselda's reversal of fortune from poverty to honor, and the moral that adversity is sent by God for exercise, underscores providential design.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“O stormy people, unsad and ev'r untrue, And undiscreet, and changing as a vane, Delighting ev'r in rumour that is new, For like the moon so waxë ye and wane: Aye full of clapping, dear enough a jane, Your doom is false, your constance evil preveth, A full great fool is he that you believeth.”
The narrator criticizes the fickle crowd, who delight in novelty and change their opinions like the moon, warning that trusting such people is foolish.
This passage reflects Chaucer's commentary on the instability of public opinion.
“This is enough, Griselda mine, quoth he, Be now no more aghast, nor evil paid, I have thy faith and thy benignity As well as ever woman was, assay'd, In great estate and poorëly array'd: Now know I, dearë wife, thy steadfastness;”
Walter tells Griselda that her patience and faithfulness have been fully tested, and he now acknowledges her steadfastness.
This marks the climax of Walter's test and the revelation of his true intentions.