Why a pilgrimage?Why a pilgrimage?

England's new class of England's new class of people, which included people, which included

artisans, guildsmen, artisans, guildsmen, landowners, lesser landowners, lesser

nobility, merchants, and nobility, merchants, and freemen, was a force that freemen, was a force that

had been growing in had been growing in power ever since the power ever since the

Black Death had killed Black Death had killed most of the working most of the working

population earlier in the population earlier in the century. century.

Serfs and feudal-bound Serfs and feudal-bound workers abandoned their old workers abandoned their old lives for paying jobs in the lives for paying jobs in the

cities and freetowns, and for cities and freetowns, and for the first time in the history of the first time in the history of England a man not born into England a man not born into power or money could live as power or money could live as

fine as royalty - better, in fine as royalty - better, in some cases.some cases.

One of the favourite One of the favourite pastimes for this new pastimes for this new

group of people was to take group of people was to take a pilgrimage, which had the a pilgrimage, which had the same function as a holiday same function as a holiday

nowadays.nowadays.

Although there were many Although there were many popular spots - the pilgrimage popular spots - the pilgrimage centre of Glastonbury is just centre of Glastonbury is just

one example - the favourite of one example - the favourite of all was the cathedral in all was the cathedral in

Canterbury that housed the Canterbury that housed the remains of the beloved St. remains of the beloved St.

Thomas á Becket. Thomas á Becket.

The second centenary of The second centenary of the death of St. Thomas the death of St. Thomas occurred in Chaucer's occurred in Chaucer's lifetime, and for the lifetime, and for the jubilee thousands of jubilee thousands of

people took to the road, people took to the road, and there was even free and there was even free food and drink for the food and drink for the

traveller all the way from traveller all the way from London along the south London along the south

road to Canterbury.road to Canterbury.

The murder of Thomas á BecketThe murder of Thomas á Becket

Beside the body of St. Thomas, Beside the body of St. Thomas, Canterbury had a lot to offer, Canterbury had a lot to offer, enough to satisfy any pilgrim: enough to satisfy any pilgrim:

the whole arms of eleven the whole arms of eleven saints, the bed of the Blessed saints, the bed of the Blessed Virgin, some wool of Her own Virgin, some wool of Her own weaving, a fragment of the weaving, a fragment of the

rock at Calvary, a piece of rock rock at Calvary, a piece of rock from the Holy Sepulchre, from the Holy Sepulchre,

Aaron's Rod, a piece of the clay Aaron's Rod, a piece of the clay from which Adam was made, from which Adam was made, and other incredible exhibits.and other incredible exhibits.

Where the journey started…Where the journey started…

The Pilgrims at the Tabard Inn

Chaucer had his pilgrims gather at Chaucer had his pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, a the Tabard Inn in Southwark, a

disreputable area across the Thames disreputable area across the Thames from London. There actually was a from London. There actually was a

Tabard Inn in Chaucer's day, and its Tabard Inn in Chaucer's day, and its innkeeper was Harry Baily, who is innkeeper was Harry Baily, who is

named in named in Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales. And just . And just as there was a real Harry Baily, so as there was a real Harry Baily, so too was the character of the cook, too was the character of the cook, Hodge of Ware, an actual person. Hodge of Ware, an actual person.

A London cook named Roger A London cook named Roger Ware (Hodge is a nickname of Ware (Hodge is a nickname of

Roger) was known at that time, Roger) was known at that time, and Chaucer obviously and Chaucer obviously

intended for some of his intended for some of his London readers to recognize London readers to recognize

Baily, Ware, and perhaps even Baily, Ware, and perhaps even others.others.

Hodge of WareHodge of Ware

Southwark was the normal starting Southwark was the normal starting point for all pilgrimages, and point for all pilgrimages, and although it is uncertain how although it is uncertain how individuals and small groups were individuals and small groups were organized into suitable companies, it organized into suitable companies, it seems certain that the Church also seems certain that the Church also played the role of travel agency. A played the role of travel agency. A Canterbury pilgrimage was so popular Canterbury pilgrimage was so popular and common that the route held few and common that the route held few curiosities for Englishmen, and a curiosities for Englishmen, and a written account of such a journey did written account of such a journey did not need descriptions of places or not need descriptions of places or sights. Chaucer only mentions his sights. Chaucer only mentions his pilgrims and their discussions; along pilgrims and their discussions; along the trip he barely named the towns the trip he barely named the towns they passed or where they stopped.they passed or where they stopped.

After leaving the Tabard the poets threw After leaving the Tabard the poets threw in in an occasional poetic signpost, enough to an occasional poetic signpost, enough to maintain the illusion of a journey. He maintain the illusion of a journey. He had the pilgrims stop at a site called the had the pilgrims stop at a site called the Watering of St. Thomas (an Watering of St. Thomas (an unidentifiable location), but other spots unidentifiable location), but other spots were barely mentioned, and when they were barely mentioned, and when they were, just in passing: were, just in passing: "Lo Greenwich, "Lo Greenwich, there many a shrewe is inne."there many a shrewe is inne." Chaucer Chaucer did not even write of Blackheath, or did not even write of Blackheath, or Dartford, the place where most pilgrims Dartford, the place where most pilgrims spent their first night out. In the Monk's spent their first night out. In the Monk's prologue the town of Rochester (about prologue the town of Rochester (about 30 miles from London) is mentioned, 30 miles from London) is mentioned, Sittingbourne is cited in the Wife of Sittingbourne is cited in the Wife of Bath's prologue, and the Blean Forest is Bath's prologue, and the Blean Forest is where the Canon's Yeoman joins the where the Canon's Yeoman joins the group.group.

At Boughton-under-Blee there were At Boughton-under-Blee there were two approaches to Canterbury, and two approaches to Canterbury, and Chaucer has his company stop to Chaucer has his company stop to decide which path to take. It is here, decide which path to take. It is here, no more than a mile from their no more than a mile from their destination, that Chaucer ends his destination, that Chaucer ends his poem, and the pilgrims end their poem, and the pilgrims end their fictional journey, the arrival in the fictional journey, the arrival in the city eternally postponed. In the final city eternally postponed. In the final reference to their progress, Chaucer reference to their progress, Chaucer does not even clarify which route the does not even clarify which route the pilgrims would have taken:pilgrims would have taken:"Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel "Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel tountoun Which that ycleped is Bobbe-up-and-Which that ycleped is Bobbe-up-and-doun,doun, Under the Blee, in Caunterbury Under the Blee, in Caunterbury weye?"weye?"

The Pilgrim's Path from Southwark to CanterburyThe Pilgrim's Path from Southwark to Canterbury

Even though Chaucer does not tell Even though Chaucer does not tell us how the pilgrims travelled, it is us how the pilgrims travelled, it is easy to trace the way they must easy to trace the way they must have gone. The street leading have gone. The street leading from Southwark is an old Roman from Southwark is an old Roman road and today is known as Old road and today is known as Old Kent Road, and eventually Kent Road, and eventually becomes New Kent Road. In becomes New Kent Road. In Chaucer's day it was called Chaucer's day it was called Watling Street, and it can still be Watling Street, and it can still be followed to Canterbury or to followed to Canterbury or to DoverDover

It would have taken at least four days It would have taken at least four days to complete a trip such as this, but to complete a trip such as this, but

Chaucer has his pilgrims seemingly do Chaucer has his pilgrims seemingly do it in one day. They leave Southwark in it in one day. They leave Southwark in

the morning, pass through certain the morning, pass through certain towns during the day, then arrive in towns during the day, then arrive in

sight of Canterbury as the sun is sight of Canterbury as the sun is setting. Nothing is said of stops for setting. Nothing is said of stops for

meals or overnight, and the trip meals or overnight, and the trip seems to pass in a strange way from seems to pass in a strange way from morning to night - much is made of morning to night - much is made of the sun's position, the length of the the sun's position, the length of the

shadows, and such. shadows, and such. 

Realism and symbolism…Realism and symbolism…

Critics argue that Chaucer Critics argue that Chaucer meant the story to be more meant the story to be more realistic than it is, that he realistic than it is, that he

just did not have time to do it just did not have time to do it right, but this way of right, but this way of

interpreting interpreting Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales means that it must be read means that it must be read for what is missing and not for what is missing and not

for what is there. for what is there.

That is not the case. That is not the case. Canterbury Canterbury TalesTales is not a work of realism, and is not a work of realism, and the ending comes exactly where it the ending comes exactly where it does. Even those tales that remain does. Even those tales that remain

unfinished do so for a purpose, unfinished do so for a purpose, such as the Squire's. The Squire is such as the Squire's. The Squire is fresh and young, not yet through fresh and young, not yet through with life, and his incomplete story with life, and his incomplete story

represents that.represents that.

We are all pilgrims, Chaucer We are all pilgrims, Chaucer says, and all of us have many says, and all of us have many

tales to tell, some finished and tales to tell, some finished and others still in the making. And others still in the making. And

what was true in Chaucer's what was true in Chaucer's time is still true today, six time is still true today, six

hundred years later. We are, all hundred years later. We are, all of us, pilgrims on the journey of us, pilgrims on the journey

through life.through life.

"This world nis but a thoroughfare full of woe,"This world nis but a thoroughfare full of woe,

And we been pilgrims passing to and fro."And we been pilgrims passing to and fro."