# The Canterbury Tales — Character guide

> Key figures in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

- [Chaucer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/chaucer.md): The narrator and author, appears as a pilgrim and tells his own tales.
- [Palamon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/palamon.md): A Theban knight imprisoned with Arcite, both love Emily.
- [Arcite](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/arcite.md): Palamon's cousin and rival for Emily's love in the Knight's Tale.
- [Emily](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/emily.md): The beautiful sister of Hippolyta, beloved by Palamon and Arcite.
- [Theseus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/theseus.md): Duke of Athens, ruler and judge in the Knight's Tale.
- [Damian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/damian.md): A squire who seduces May in the Merchant's Tale.
- [Meliboeus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/meliboeus.md): A wealthy man whose wife Prudence advises him after an attack.
- [Griseldis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/griseldis.md): Patient wife of Marquis Walter, tested by extreme trials.
- [Aurelius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/aurelius.md): A squire who loves Dorigen in the Franklin's Tale.
- [Dame Constance](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/dame_constance.md): A virtuous Christian princess who endures many trials.
- [Dame Prudence](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/dame_prudence.md): Wise wife of Meliboeus who counsels forgiveness.
- [Nicholas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/nicholas.md): A clever Oxford scholar who tricks John the carpenter.
- [Our Host](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/host.md): Harry Bailly, the innkeeper who organizes the tale-telling contest.
- [The Sompnour](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/sompnour.md): A lecherous and corrupt church summoner among the pilgrims.
- [Sir Thopas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/sir_thopas.md): A knight in Chaucer's own tale, a parody of romance.
- [Chanticleer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/chanticleer.md): A proud rooster who dreams of danger in the Nun's Priest's Tale.
- [Walter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/walter.md): The marquis who marries and tests Griseldis.
- [Absolon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/absolon.md): A vain parish clerk who pursues Alison in the Miller's Tale.
- [Alla](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/alla.md): King of Northumberland who marries Constance.
- [Cecile](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/cecile.md): A Christian martyr and saint in the Second Nun's Tale.
- [Virginius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/virginius.md): A Roman knight who kills his daughter to preserve her honor.
- [The Franklin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/franklin.md): A wealthy landowner and pilgrim who tells the Franklin's Tale.
- [Dorigen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/dorigen.md): A faithful wife who makes a rash promise in the Franklin's Tale.
- [January](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/january.md): An old knight who marries young May in the Merchant's Tale.
- [Arviragus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/arviragus.md): Dorigen's husband in the Franklin's Tale.
- [The Reeve](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/reeve.md): A carpenter turned reeve who tells a tale of a miller.
- [The Squire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/squire.md): The Knight's son, a young pilgrim who tells an unfinished tale.
- [The Yeoman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/yeoman.md): A forester and servant of the Knight among the pilgrims.
- [Alison](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/alison.md): The young wife of John the carpenter in the Miller's Tale.
- [Friar](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/friar.md): A wanton friar among the pilgrims who tells a tale.
- [Partelote](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/partelote.md): Chanticleer's favorite hen in the Nun's Priest's Tale.
- [Creon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/creon.md): The tyrant of Thebes in the Knight's Tale.
- [The Manciple](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/manciple.md): A shrewd purchaser for a law school who tells a tale.
- [Hippolyta](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/hippolyta.md): Queen of the Amazons, wife of Theseus in the Knight's Tale.
- [The Soudan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/soudan.md): The Sultan of Syria who marries Constance.
- [Sir Appius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/appius.md): The corrupt judge in the Physician's Tale.
- [The Shipman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/shipman.md): A rough seafaring pilgrim who tells a tale of a merchant's wife.
- [The Pardoner](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/pardoner.md): A corrupt church official who tells a moral tale about greed.
- [The Wife of Bath](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/wife_of_bath.md): A bold, experienced wife who tells a tale about female sovereignty.
- [The Knight](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/knight.md): A noble and worthy pilgrim who tells the first tale.
- [The Miller](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/miller.md): A brutish pilgrim who tells a bawdy tale about a carpenter.
- [The Clerk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/clerk.md): A scholarly pilgrim from Oxford who tells the tale of Griseldis.
- [The Merchant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/merchant.md): A wealthy but unhappy pilgrim who tells a tale of marriage.
- [The Man of Law](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/man_of_law.md): A learned lawyer who tells the tale of Constance.
- [The Prioress](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/prioress.md): A refined nun who tells a miracle tale of a little boy.
- [The Monk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/monk.md): A worldly monk who tells a series of tragic falls of great men.
- [The Nun's Priest](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/nun_priest.md): A priest who tells the beast fable of Chanticleer.
- [The Second Nun](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/second_nun.md): A nun who tells the life of Saint Cecilia.
- [The Canon's Yeoman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/canon_yeoman.md): A servant of a canon who tells a tale of alchemy.
- [The Parson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/parson.md): A virtuous priest who tells a long prose sermon on penance.
- [John](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/john_carpenter.md): A jealous old carpenter in the Miller's Tale.
- [Alein](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/alein.md): A poor Cambridge scholar in the Reeve's Tale.
- [Placebo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/placebo.md): A flattering friend in the Merchant's Tale.
- [Justinus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/justinus.md): A wise friend who warns January in the Merchant's Tale.
- [May](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/may.md): The young wife of January in the Merchant's Tale.
- [Janicola](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/janicola.md): Griseldis's poor father in the Clerk's Tale.
- [Dame Hermegild](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/hermegild.md): Constance's friend in Northumberland in the Man of Law's Tale.
- [The Soudaness](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/soudaness.md): The Sultan's mother who plots against Constance.
- [Tiburce](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/tiburce.md): Cecilia's brother-in-law who converts to Christianity.
- [Saint Urban](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/urban.md): The pope who baptizes Tiburce in the Second Nun's Tale.
- [Canace](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/canace.md): A princess with a magic ring in the Squire's Tale.
- [The Cook](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/cook.md): A pilgrim cook who tells an unfinished tale.
- [Dame Ales](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/dame_ales.md): The wife of the Shipman's tale, a merchant's wife.
- [Jenkin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/jenkin.md): The Wife of Bath's fifth husband, a young clerk.
- [Gerveis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/gerveis.md): A smith who lends Absolon a hot coulter in the Miller's Tale.
- [Malkin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/malkin.md): A miller's daughter in the Reeve's Tale.
- [Claudius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/claudius.md): A false churl who accuses Virginia in the Physician's Tale.
- [Master Nicholay](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/nicholay.md): A clerk in the Miller's Tale, also called Nicholas.
- [Mabily](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/mabily.md): A character mentioned in the Merchant's Tale.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters