The Canterbury Tales · Chapter
The Miller's Tale explained
In Oxford, a rich carpenter named John marries a young, beautiful wife named Alison.
What happens
In Oxford, a rich carpenter named John marries a young, beautiful wife named Alison. A clever clerk named Nicholas, who boards with them, seduces Alison. Meanwhile, a parish clerk named Absolon also pursues Alison. Nicholas devises a plan to trick John into believing a second Noah's flood is coming, so that he and Alison can spend the night together. John builds three tubs and hangs them from the roof, and when he falls asleep, Nicholas and Alison climb down to be together. Absolon comes to the window to woo Alison, but she tricks him into kissing her backside. Enraged, Absolon fetches a hot coulter and returns. Nicholas then farts in his face, and Absolon brands his buttocks with the hot iron. Nicholas cries for water, waking John, who cuts the rope of his tub, crashes down, and breaks his arm. John's story of the flood is dismissed as madness, and Nicholas and Alison are left to laugh at the chaos.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church
Absolon, a parish clerk, is more concerned with wooing women and his own vanity than with his religious duties, highlighting the hypocrisy within the clergy.
Gender and Power
Alison is objectified by both Nicholas and Absolon, yet she exercises agency by choosing to participate in the deception of her husband, subverting the expected power dynamics.
Fortune and Providence
Nicholas manipulates John's belief in divine providence by fabricating a prophecy of a flood, showing how fortune can be twisted for personal gain.
Characters to notice
- Nicholas
A clever and sly clerk who boards with John the carpenter. He seduces Alison and devises the flood trick to be with her.
- Alison
The young and beautiful wife of John the carpenter. She is courted by both Nicholas and Absolon, and ultimately agrees to Nicholas's plan.
- Absolon
A vain and amorous parish clerk who pursues Alison. He is humiliated when he kisses her backside and later brands Nicholas with a hot coulter.
- John
The wealthy but jealous carpenter who marries young Alison. He is easily tricked by Nicholas's prophecy of a flood and ends up breaking his arm.
Key passages
“This clerk was called Hendy Nicholas; Of dernë love he knew and of solace; And therewith he was sly and full privy, And like a maiden meekë for to see.”
This clerk was known as 'Handy' Nicholas; he was experienced in secret love and pleasure, and he was cunning and discreet, appearing as meek as a maiden.
Introduces Nicholas as a clever and deceptive character, skilled in the art of seduction.
“She was a primerole, a piggesnie, For any lord t' have ligging in his bed, Or yet for any good yeoman to wed.”
She was a primrose, a darling, fit for any lord to have lying in his bed, or for any good yeoman to marry.
Describes Alison's beauty and desirability, emphasizing her appeal to men of all social ranks.
“And thus they were accorded and y-sworn To wait a time, as I have said beforn.”
And thus they agreed and swore to wait for an opportunity, as I have said before.
Nicholas and Alison finalize their plan to deceive John.
“This silly carpenter begins to quake: He thinketh verily that he may see This newë flood come weltering as the sea To drenchen Alison, his honey dear.”
This foolish carpenter begins to tremble: He truly believes he can see this new flood rolling in like the sea to drown Alison, his honey dear.
Shows John's gullibility and fear, which Nicholas exploits.
“Then shall we be lordës all our life Of all the world, as Noë and his wife.”
Then we shall be lords all our lives over all the world, just like Noah and his wife.
Nicholas's promise to John of power and status, playing on his vanity.
