What makes a good story? A common element, especially in medieval tales, is a moral or message. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayFranklin's story is no exception, with Franklin making his worldview clear, with his aspirations of kindness and his (or perhaps even Chaucer) ideal vision of marriage. However, a contrast in setting and values ​​throughout the tale depicts another set of ideals. Although perhaps more subtle, they are no less important in unlocking the character behind Franklin and the principles affirmed by Chaucer. These ideals arise from the contrast between the overtly pagan setting of the tale and the Christian narrator who tells it. The issue of religion in the tale is important to both Franklin and Chaucer, particularly in relation to the depiction of magic and marriage. Franklin is eager to assert his own orthodoxy, and it becomes clear that despite the context of an old pagan world, we are in fact never far from the medieval concerns and beliefs of Chaucer's day, whatever the narrative divergences. is this simply a way to comfort his audience, or is there an underlying argument? Well, the first topic in question is the representation of magic. It plays a crucial role in the tale: it is the main element which ensures the final ending and the resolution. This of course poses problems for Chaucer, because magic is not considered compatible with Christianity, and Franklin therefore claims that the magic in question is "natural magic", as opposed to the "black magic" he describes. as a “superstitious curse”. He further emphasizes the illusory nature of this magic, with phrases such as “It seemed that” and “in the sight of men”. Even more directly, he says: "for the illusions and mechanisms that the pagans used in our day." Here, not only does he attempt to portray magic as illusions, but he also begins to distance himself from the characters in the tale. An interesting phrase appears as Franklin first describes the clerk and his magic, where he says, "As these days it is not worth a fly: for the holy churches in our bileive." This statement is almost anxious, as if he felt the need to reassure his audience of his own respectable beliefs, by condemning these practices and distancing himself from them. As we can see from these asides, the Franklin makes a clear distinction between natural magic and natural magic. black magic, arguing that they are only illusions. And as if that wasn't enough, he anxiously distances himself from this magic in order to defend his own orthodoxy. Clearly, Franklin is trying hard to comfort his Christian audience. In addition to the contradictions of context and values, another such contradiction is present. By medieval standards it would be impossible to achieve both, as they are inherently opposed. Marriage is an act of God. The pastor describes the relationship as “a bit of Christ and the Holy Church.” On the other hand, courtly love is a system created by man, which allows the bonds between husband and wife to be separated. Despite these differences, the Franklin combines the two, merging Christian and pagan ideals. Arveragus and Dorigen serve God by deciding to marry, but the description of the relationship is one of courtly love, depicting Arveragus' pain and suffering in his attempts to woo Dorigen. Moreover, the nocturnal sacrifice of his "master", committing himself to possessing only the "name of sovereign", shows his generositycourteous, willing to forfeit her God-given obligation of sovereignty for the sake of appearance. This is a clear example of Franklin's mixing of Christian and pagan values. Chaucer enthusiastically paints the successes of this system, presenting an idyllic year of happy marriage, the story ending with the couple living happily ever after. He maintains that their love, loyalty and trust in each other guarantee a happy marriage. In addition to the overall contrast of the setting, Chaucer also uses the setting to depict religious metaphors that provide insight into the direction of the tale. For example, in Dorigen's complaint, she laments God's placement of the "macabre rokkes blake", which reflects her own mental state, questioning why he tolerates the existence of suffering. Chaucer was intrigued by such questions about evil and suffering in the world, having translated Bothius' question: "How can evil exist in a world with an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God?" troubled him and perhaps this is what prompted Chaucer to write in a pagan framework. This “dark fantasy” is then quickly contrasted with the garden to which his friends take him to try to lighten his mood. It is described as "a veraiy paradise", the word paradise being an allusion to the fact that Chaucer uses this garden as a metaphor for the Garden of Eden. His medieval audience would likely have understood this and recognized the foreshadowing, where Dorigen's reckless promise is analogous to the forbidden fruit. The contrast between the harsh and unloving "macabre blake rokkes" and the artificial garden, described as a "handicraft of Mannes" with "peynted yeast and flour", gives the impression of security and sheltered, but the foreshadowing of the forbidden fruit gives it a darker nuance. While offering solace to his misery, it is also his home. to the temptation that almost leads to disaster. Here we see Chaucer using the setting both to convey his own apprehensions about the elements of Christianity and to foreshadow the impact of Dorigen's rash promise. Now, throughout the tale you also hear regular references to pagan gods. For example, in the description of Aurelius as a servant of Venus and in Aurelius' prayer to Apollo. This probably seems inappropriate. It is certain that this recognition of pagan gods violates Chaucer's principles and opposes any condemnation of pagan principles. Upon closer inspection, Chaucer actually uses these prayers and descriptions to refute the pagan gods. Aurelius prays to Apollo and Lucina for a two-year flood, to submerge the rocks and grant him release from his suffering, but his request is never granted. From a Christian perspective, a pagan prayer to a pagan god cannot be effective, and so, unbeknownst to Aurélie, her prayer is in vain. The planets must move at the same relative pace that God assigned to them, and so Lucina cannot slow the moon to cause a perpetual full tide. It is the Virgin Mary who really holds the influence that the pagans attributed to Lucina. And so Aurelius has been resting “in languor and furyus torment” for two years, but no pagan god comes to comfort him. In contrast, Dorigin pleads for God to remove the black rocks, ironically not expecting a response, and, much to his dismay, gets his wish granted. Aurelius finally resorts to the magician and, once the miracle is complete, thanks Venus, not Lucina, to whom he had initially prayed. Furthermore, he fails to complete his promised pilgrimage to Delphi. This demonstrates his acceptance that Apollo did not grant his wish and is not responsible for this miracle. Additionally, the time at which the miracle takes place.