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Intimacy In Miller's Tale

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Per the Middle English Dictionary, the word “privetee” has varying degrees of meaning. The word “privetee” contains connotations of privacy, secrecy, and sexual affairs. In the “Miller’s Tale,” Chaucer explores the secret spheres of privacy and intimacy. Within these secret spheres there lie three tiers of exploration: the mental, emotional, and physical. In effect, the word “privetee” effortlessly weaves together the actions of each character in relation to their respective pursuits of intimacy. Likewise, it draws attention to the importance of private spaces within the Carpenter’s home and its impact on the story. The private spaces of the Carpenter’s home are given meaning by the inherent or attributed characteristics of its place of residency.

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