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Summary Of Yonic Symbols In The Miller's Tale

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A phallic symbol is an object that, by any stretch of the imagination, may be considered to resemble a penis in any way. The coulter is the first example of this in The Miller’s Tale. It is used as a tool for Absolon’s revenge in the storypoem, as he plans to use it to poke Alisoun in the arse. Instead, he ends up poking Nicholas in the behind, which is a clear metaphor for homoerotic or even homosexual behavior. This directly correlates to Nicholas using his “tool” to embarrass or insult John the carpenter by having sex with Alisoun. The “poker” that strongly resembles that of a penis can also resemble a sword, the primary weapon of this time. If we imagine for a minute that Absolon and Nicholas are both bearing arms (poker and penis) …show more content…

The main instance that the yonic symbol is displayed in the storypoem is in the form of the window that Alisoun, Nicholas, and Absolon all have encounters with. First, the window itself can physically be seen to represent the female genitalia. It is an open space with sides, which is generally the only requirement to slightly resemble a yonic symbol. Second, there are several instances of objects going in as well as going out of the window. While some are more obvious that other’s they are all sexual innuendo’s involving this yonic symbol. Absolon uses his coulter to attempt to stab Nicholas. The coulter represents Absolon’s genitalia, while the window can represent two separate ideas. One is that it represents Alisoun’s genitalia, and Absolon is symbolically having intercourse with her, because as we previously discussed he is unsuccessful and maybe unwilling to perform this role in the storypoem. This scenario would show the need for Absolon to attempt to perform because of the social constructs expected of a man in society. The second scenario is that the window is not a representation of Alisoun, but a representation of either Nicholas or Gervias. In this instance, Absolon is relieving sexual frustration that he has in him because of the lack of sexual satisfaction in his life. The phallic symbol and yonic symbol both play important roles in the understanding of …show more content…

It has to do with the interaction between Harry Bailey (the host) and Pilgrim Chaucer. Pilgrim Chaucer is called upon by the host to tell his tale, but in a way that was meant to ridicule pilgrim Chaucer. Harry Bailey says “This were a popet in an arm t’embrace/ For any womman; smal and fair of face/ He semeth, elvyssh by his contenaunce” (1891-1894). Bailey is essentially saying that Chaucer resembles a small doll for a woman to hug, with a face like a fairy (Williams 145). This is clearly an attempt to diminish Chaucer’s masculinity, to which Chaucer responds with politeness, rather than anger like many other Canterbury adventurers would have done. Instead, Chaucer intended to mock the host by telling a tale involving homosexuality and femininity in a male character. Although Harry Bailey does not realize this, Chaucer’s clever use of detail created a storypoem that satirizes romances and also mocks the host himself at the same time. Harry Bailey simply sees the tale as a “drasty” (dirty) and “lewd”, and insists he stops the tale at once. Although it seems like Pilgrim Chaucer is being clever, it is realistically the work of the author Chaucer for creating this opportunity of satire from

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