# The Shipman’s Tale explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

A merchant's wife borrows money from a monk, who is also her lover, and repays the debt by sleeping with him. The merchant unknowingly facilitates the affair when the monk asks for a loan, which he then gives to the wife. The tale satirizes marital deception and financial greed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church

The monk's deceit and sexual misconduct highlight clerical hypocrisy.

### Marriage and Sovereignty

The wife's manipulation and infidelity challenge traditional marital authority.

## Character check-ins

### The Shipman

Tells this tale of a merchant, his wife, and a monk.

### The Merchant

A wealthy merchant who is deceived by his wife and a monk.

### The Monk

A monk who borrows money from the merchant and seduces the merchant's wife.

### Dame Ales

The merchant's wife, who conspires with the monk to deceive her husband.

## Key lines

> The Shipman’s Tale 3675

The Shipman begins his tale.

_Opening of the tale._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-shipman-s-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters