Home
The narrator concentrates on her refined and cultured mannerisms as his next target. Mentioning her language skills, the narrator informs the reader of the Nun’s French capabilities: “And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,/After the scole of Stratford at the Bowe—/For Frenssh of Paris was to hire unknowe” (246; 124-126). During this time period, the French represented sophistication as well as being the center of the arts and humanities. Her ability to speak French can be deduced as a desire to appear of royal class and a higher social order. However, the narrator also makes clear that her French contains a rural accent since Parisian French was unavailable to her. This represents her inevitable failure to join the foremost social class and emphasizes her desperate need to feel as if she is cultured and educated. Yet, the narrator is regardlessly pleased and impressed by her French and even seems to be aroused by her linguistic variety. He complements her, utilizing choice adjectives such as “faire” and “fetisly,” confirming his eagerness for her affection and his fetish with her mouth.
Despite the fact that her accented French seems to convince, at least the narrator, of her sophistication, Madame Eglentyne’s eating peculiarities are an addition attempt to feign a higher social standing. The narrator detailedly describes her eating mannerisms:“At mete well ytaught was she withalle:/She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle” and “Hir over-lippe wiped she so clene/That in hir coppe ther was no ferthing seene/Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte” (246; 127-135). The narrator focuses almost exclusively on her lips and mouth during this portion of the story. Granted, eating is a very mouth-oriented activity, but his choice words create a very sensual tone within the language. It also highlights her specific etiquette which closely resembles that of the royal court, further revealing her aspiration to imitate royalty, although she is only an ordinary prioress.
Despite the fact that her accented French seems to convince, at least the narrator, of her sophistication, Madame Eglentyne’s eating peculiarities are an addition attempt to feign a higher social standing. The narrator detailedly describes her eating mannerisms:“At mete well ytaught was she withalle:/She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle” and “Hir over-lippe wiped she so clene/That in hir coppe ther was no ferthing seene/Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte” (246; 127-135). The narrator focuses almost exclusively on her lips and mouth during this portion of the story. Granted, eating is a very mouth-oriented activity, but his choice words create a very sensual tone within the language. It also highlights her specific etiquette which closely resembles that of the royal court, further revealing her aspiration to imitate royalty, although she is only an ordinary prioress.
