Comparing Fortune and Nature in Canterbury Tales and As...

Fortune and Nature in Canterbury Tales and As You Like It The medieval world was a complicated place, full of the chain of being, astrological influences, elements and humors. A mans life was supposedly influenced by all manner of externals acting by destiny or chance. Fortune and Nature are two terms that include many of these factors, representing chance and inborn qualities. Shakespeare mentions the two frequently, most notably in an extended dialogue between Rosalind and Celia in As You Like It. Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales also provide many examples of Fortune and Natures combinations in human affairs. His Pardoners Tale, Millers Tale, and Wife of Baths Tale all depend on the effects of these two metaphysical†¦show more content†¦Alisons Nature seems unclear to both John and Absolon, though Nicholas understands her well enough, and finds a Fortunate plan for removing her husband for a night. The Millers contrived yet humorous tale would not work without the complex interaction of the characters individual Natures and the vagaries of Fortune that allow Johns participation in Nicholas plot, Absolons attempted courtship, embarassing failure, and subsequent revenge, and Nicholas pained cry of Water! to unite in the humorous finale. The Wife of Bath arranges a similar juxtaposition for her story. Her lengthy prologue and much of her tale examines the Nature of women -- their behavior in and out of marriage. I wonder, though, how many of her habits result from Fortune as well, from being matched in her first three marriages with rich dotards who she could easily manipulate and control. Fortune throws the tempting maiden in the path of the errant knight -- And happed that, allone as he was born, / He sawgh a maide walking him biforn; / ...By verray force her rafte hir maiden- head. (ll. 891-2,894) Fortune also provides the knights last-minute meeting with the miraculous hag who rescues him -- And in his way it happed him to ride / ...No creature sawgh he that bar lif, / Save on the greene he sawgh sitting a wif. (ll. 995, 1003-4). The fairy hag orates at length on gentilnesse as a property of Nature (inborn quality and obvious action)Show MoreRelatedA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 Pagesprese nt be identified. No attempt has been made to impose a logical order on the illogicality of the book. Book I In the preface, after some autobiographical material, the author gives his reason for writing the work, which is to shed light on the nature of magic, a secret closely guarded by the ancient philosophers. He adds a summary of the contents of his four books (pp.1-3). This is replaced, in some manuscripts, by a detailed list of contents, arranged by chapter, of which a translation will beRead MoreVideo Notes29279 Words   |  118 PagesW, Four Points, and St. Regis) had its own approach for working with planners. The video presents the problems with the old approach, and includes a point for instructors to â€Å"pause† the video, if desired, to discuss this question: â€Å"What changes do you think Starwood implemented to turn this situation and the meeting planning process into a competitive weapon?† After the break, the video wraps up by showing how Starwood resolved the issues of inconsistency and meeting planner expectations to create