f material or social advancement.The Squire, unlike the Knight, fought for reasons other than honor and duty. The Squire was first characterized as A lover and a lusty bacheler. (General Prologue, 80). The Squire is depicted as the type of man who cares more for the women that he can impress than of the honor he will protect and save. Chaucer further classifies the Squire as a typical ladies man when he says, In hope to stonden in his [ladys] grace. (General Prologue, 88). The Squires primary goal when going into battle is impressing the woman whom he is after. Unlike his father, the Squire wasnt interested in chivalry, honor, or courtesy. The Squire goes into battle for his own personal gain. The Squire is the type of warrior who asks how much am I going to get paid for this battle, and not, what are we fighting these people for. Chaucer advances this characterization when he writes, ...he hadde been some time in the [Kings cavalry] (General Prologue, 85). These cavalry expeditions, as is said in the footnote, fought constantly against the French. These battles were probably fought for no other reason than territorial disputes. Unlike the Knight, who was fighting heathens, the Squire fought other Christians for material possession. Though fighting for territorial reasons is important, when paired up with the example of the Knight, who fought for merely religious purposes, the Squires reasons for fighting seem somewhat trivial and honorless. This factor further adds to the characterization of both men, because in both cases the mens reason for fighting and their personalities match. The Knight fought for honor and in honorable matches, but was probably the type of man who would provide his enemy with a sword before a fight. The Squire, conversely, fought for gain and fought in battles that were strictly for the gain of the state. Chaucer uses this pairing to depict the differences in the times. There is a sense that t...
