d victorious are their costumes removed, stripping away their armor and thus, their chivalric duty. The Knights Tale, portrays all clothing as that which can hide and conceal intention, and ultimately reveals that it is necessary to strip away superficial artifices in order to reach understanding.Contrastingly, the tale of the Miller that follows uses frequent nakedness as a means to quyte the knightes tale, (19) by refuting all formality. But without any formal ornamentation, only pity or despair can be gained from nakedness. Whereas The Knights Tale embraces the formality of artifice to the point of absolute disdain and coldness, the Miller goes to the other extreme of shedding clothing, which ultimately reveals a path of conflict as well. The frequent theme of sexual and moral freedom produces a sense of naturalism, the very antithesis of chivalrous romanticism. In The Millers Tale Chaucer counters formality with the absence of artifices, which, in this tale, accurately parallels the absence of morality.Another example of artifice as a binding contract, similar to that of knighthood, can be seen in the tale and character of the Prioress. Her appearance reveals the depths of her vanity and, consequentially, her despicable character. The nun is truly unsatisfied with her status in life- many women entered into the church out of necessity (i.e. without dowry, widowed, orphaned etc.); and it is evident that she truly desires aristocracy. Along with placing importance upon frivolous behaviors such as courtly manners and etiquette, the prioress is consumed with materialism, and lacks piety. Her clothing is far from simple, and indicates her ungodly ideals; Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war/ Of small coral aboute hire arm she bar/ A peive of bedes, guaded al with grene/ And theron heng a broche of gord ful shene (157-160). The brooch, however, is perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the nuns appearance with its inscription:...
