In Henry Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, we, the readers, are introduced to the character of the Clerk. The word “clerk” is derived from the old English word “clergyman,” which is defined as “a Parrish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal Church service, and otherwise assist in it.”
This Clerk in The Canterbury Tales is described as a wonderful man who has devoted his life to the calling of God. As such, I think he has a lot in common with, and reminds me of, Jesus Christ, the son of God. Chaucer shows the Clerk as having of knowledge of religion by stating, “He was rich in holy thoughts and work.” He goes on to describe the Clerk as someone “who meant Christ’s gospel faithfully to preach and truly his parishioners to teach.” In addition, the Clerk faced the many of the trials that Jesus did, such as having his faith was tested, but, like Jesus, he never doubted his belief and never gave up. Chaucer wrote, “many times tested by adversity and always patient.” The Clerk also sacrificed for his people (“he would rather spread his offerings about to his poor flock, or spend his property.”) He was not consumed by greed in that he was happy sharing with his people, which was a big problem for the Church, (“To him little meant sufficient.”) because of all the corruption and people leaving the Church. To me, there are two qualities that really stand out and validated the comparison to Jesus. The first is when the narrator says “he [the Clerk] was a model his flock could understand, for first he did and afterwards he taught.” And the second is, “by good example and just words to turn sinners to heaven was his whole concern.” The Clerk never lost sight of what his mission was here on earth, which was to get people to repent and accept God as their savior.
I believe that Chaucer deliberately made the Clerk resemble Jesus to restore the faith of people in the Church and in religion. Although it was a tough time for the Church, since it was full of corruption: “run to London, happiest of goals, to sing paid masses in St. Paul’s for Souls.” Chaucer, through the character of the Clerk, thought that people must not lose their faith, and tried to show them that there was still hope, that even priest had to be tested, and not to succumb to greed or else they would be punished. The Clerk’s message was clear: the only important thing was to worship God.
This is who the Clerk does not want to become.
This is who the Clerk is.
