arity to the Knight, so is the Reeve by the Miller. Therefore Robins enjoyment of life shows just how little Oswald receives from the same. For instance, the Millers large frame and excessive drinking show his delight in small pleasures. The Reeve, however, is a sclendre colerik man who controls his beard and hair (in opposition to the unruly strands that grow on a wart on the millers nose) as manipula-tively as the accounts of the farm on which he works (I 587). The Miller mastered the bag-pipes for entertainment in his spare time while the Reeve trained with more practical tools: In youthe he had lerned a good myster: He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter (I 614). Robin is very physical; he is strong and willing to wrestle anything and carries a sword and buckler at his side. Oswald only carries a rusty blade, which indicates that it is not used very often and is only for show. If compelled to fight, he would most likely back down, preferring verbal sparring. The Miller socializes with the group with no regards to the class system, in-terrupting the expected order to tell his story before the Monk, while Oswald prefers to sepa-rate himself and ride last among the group. These disparities give the impression that Oswald is focused inward while Robin con-centrates on the outward. The Reeve is ruled by his practical mind, which directs him to make as much money as possible, whether it is through theft or saving or learning useful trades, and to avoid dangerous situations, even if it entails cowardice. The Miller is more of a Dionysian figure, who does only what pleases him, whether it is knocking heads or ignoring his wifes infidelities. These differences in character foreshadow the differences in their tales. They both tell similar dirty stories but the nature varie...
