The Erotics of Storytelling: Chaucer’s Exploration of Sexuality

Abstract

In “The Canterbury Tales”, Geoffrey Chaucer embraces the fabliaux genre, subverting it by broadening its scope of social commentary and incorporating elements of medieval romance. Chaucer's use of symbolism is profound, and his fabliaux characters are often more nuanced than those in traditional French fabliaux. Chaucer's fabliaux are more complicated, addressing darker subjects and ambiguities, often longer and incorporating elements of romances, such as classical allusions, particularly evident in The Merchant’s Tale.

This paper examines four of Chaucer's fabliaux that are both complete and erotic: The Miller’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, and The Summoner’s Tale. These tales, set in well-known locales, use erotic humor and sexual imagery to provide social commentary and critique traditional romantic conventions.