Essay About Comparison Of The Knight And Quality Of A True Gentleman

A Comparison of the Knight and the Squire in Chaucer’s the Canterbury
Essay title: A Comparison of the Knight and the Squire in Chaucer’s the Canterbury
In the medieval period that is described by Chaucers Canterbury Tales,
chivalry was perhaps the most recognized quality of a true gentleman. This
quality is explored in Chaucers two characters of the warrior class, the
Knight and the Squire. The squire is the son of the Knight; both ride
gallantly and have the air of true gentleman warriors. However, the two are
very dissimilar despite their appearances. The Knight possesses the true
qualities of chivalry, devotion to service, constancy in humility, and
honesty. The Squire possesses none of these qualities truly; instead his
demeanor is one that is less honorable and virtuous. Although both claim
the same vocation, the Squire and the Knight display contradicting attitudes
in respect to dedication, material possessions, and sincerity.
The main point in the description of the Knight was the abundance and
importance of his battles, while it was the least mentioned aspect in the
Squire. The entirety of the Squires military experience is named in two
lines, “he had seen some service with the cavalry/ If Flanders and Artois
and Picardy,” perchance a direct consequence of the Squires youth (5). The
list of the Knights battles clearly dominates the text of his description,
running many lines. He had embarked “.along the Mediterranean coast” to
such places as Alexandria, Lithuania, Russia, Granada, Algeciras, North
Africa, Benamarin, Anatolia, Ayas, and Attalia (4). Not only were the
battles of the knight more numerous, they were more extensive and required
lengthy travels to far-away lands. The Squire had “done valiantly in little
space” in these battles, but had not distinguished himself from his peers.
This is implied when it is said that he had only seen “some service with the
cavalry” (5).
The Squire had pursued no noteworthy errands in the interest of chivalry
like his father. The “distinguished knight”, on the other hand, was very
chivalrous because of his unconditional dedication (4). He had been in
“fifteen mortal battles” and “always killed his men” which supports that he
is committed to his work, as opposed to the Squire, who possessed a
distracted attitude (4). “He could make sons and poems and recite, / Knew
how to joust and dance, to draw and write” and so has focused his time and
energy to many other things (5). The Squires
priorities are in entertaining rather than in his vocation, perhaps due to
his young age. In contrast, the Knight focused solely on his chivalrous
duty; returning “home from service, he had joined the ranks / To do his
pilgrimage and give thanks” (5). Although Chaucer does not criticize the
Squire by his writing, the Squires hesitant attitude towards putting
himself in mortal danger as well as his lack of conviction are revealed in
light of the Knights numerous demonstrations of a willingness to defend his
faith single-handedly and also in extreme hardship and distance.
In addition to Chaucers descriptions of dedication that distinguish the
Knight, Chaucer also provides a description of the Squires acquisitiveness
for wealth and beauty, a quality that is contrary to the humble nature of
the knight. The Squire had “locks as curly