Medieval literature

T he prelude scene is colorfully described but also in the case of humoristic description of Januarie when Chaucer pictures his beard and his lusty and voluptuous impatience. T he scene when he explains his wife naming the sexual intercourse ‘play' that it is true wedlock and intercourse in this case is not sin but natural and it has a slight ironical tone. Though Chaucer shows that Januarie loves his young wife when he is afraid of making pain to her because of the first penetration: «And seyde thus, «Allas! I.

moot trespaceTo yow, my spouse, and yow greetlyoffendeErtyme come that I wildoundescende."(1830−32)Interestingly, May does not utter a word during the intercourse only author evaluates Januarie’s efforts putting it into the form of possible May thoughts: «She preysethnat his pleyyng worth a bene». The word ‘play' here has double meaning it refers to his playing the musical instrument and at the same time ‘play' means intercourse in Januarie’s discourse. S o in both meaning she rated his actions as ‘not worth a bean'. These examples do not have obscene words but the acts may be judged as obscene for their natural description of some intercourse moments maybe judged even pornographic: «That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked. Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked;He wolde of hire, he seyde, hansomplesaunce;» (1957;59).Here there are many euphemisms for intercourse like ‘labour', ‘play', ‘paradise' which proves that Chaucer’s language is very careful in using obscene words as they are. S o each time he utilizes them it has some artistic purpose. T he very last scene of Damian and May making love on the pear-tree under the Januarie’s head is very popular. T.

he adultery is depicted using strong vulgar terms. B ut the Merchant uses these obscene words voluntarily because before uttering them heappeals to the women to excuse his strong obscene words. I t may happen that he uses such words because they help to make the scene more realistic and probably he feels more pity for young lovers than to old husband who cannot afford to make sexual pleasure to his wife and whom The Merchant satirically depicts. «L.

adyes, I prey yow that ye be natwrooth;I kannatglose, I am a rude man —And sodeynly anon this DamyanGanpullen up the smok, and in he throng." (2350−53). T he last obscene word in the Merchants Tale is derived from the mouth of Januarie who sees with his own eyes his wife copulation with the other man and he uses already mentioned here obscene verb ‘swyven'. Here the obscene word is chosen by the character because he is not intended to veil the obscene act by the euphemistic phrases he just refers to the direct meaning ‘fuck' arguing with his wife’s definition it as ‘strugle': «Strugle?» quod he, «Ye, algate in it wente! God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen! He swyved thee; I saugh it with myne yen, And elles be I hanged by the hals!» So the obscenity in the various form of its expression is used within the frame of The Canterbury Tales quite delicate. O ur analysis shows that the obscenity is the characteristic trait of the chosen genre — fabliau. O.

bscenity here it is not the necessity to be rude or vulgar but reference to the words as they are. T herefore obscenity is some kind form expressing realism in medieval literature. A lso as the fabliau is somehow challenges ‘courtly love' performance the obscene language and obscene realistic scenes are underlined their juxtaposition. T he main obscene words are the bottom parts of the human body: female and male genitalia, bossom, buttocks so everything which are not to be supposed seen by the other people and take part in the sexual intercourse and can bring sexual pleasure. T.

he sexual intercourse itself or its description is seen here as obscene. O bviously the obscenity was not taken offensive and profanebypeople parts of some social layers but natural expression of things. T here are stylistic and artistic necessities in using obscene words. F irst, in reaching humoristic effect sometimes Chaucer needs to use obscenity. S.

econd, obscenity is a part of irony when some ‘courtly love' principles are contrasted with the obscene actions. T hird, Chaucer disclaims his usage of obscene words in other words he proposes the reader to take the rhetoric of obscenity as a part of simple people life and part of their discourse. A t the same time the author and all characters who use vulgar words or portrayobscene actions or acts realize the effect that may betakenupon. Undoubtedly all scenes of obscene acts and actions and all the usage of rude, profane, vulgar words have some deep meaning.

A s the analysis proves the obscenity usage has its arguments. A nd meaning of obscenity was strong to some people but some meaning of obscene words has changed and at the Chaucer’s times these profane words were more normal in some written discourse but obviously not allowed to use in some circumstances for example by the women or in the presence of women and noble men. So the notion of obscene and obscene words usage is very important withinthe discourse of The Canterbury Tales.