Social Strata In The Canterbury Tales: Literature Review You Might Want To Emulate

Chaucer sets The Canterbury Tales in a period of economic evolution in England, so it is unsurprising that social strata is an important theme. It is perhaps most significant in the representations of members of the new middle class. A central question this new social grouping rears is what constitutes power in society, especially within the context of their specific community. As seen in The Tales, wealth isn’t the only factor influencing power struggle among the classes.
The late 1380s and early 1390s England experienced a period of significant social turmoil. The plague was responsible for the deaths of a large number of people, and this led to an unprecedented level of social mobility. England’s social strata was mixed up like never before, and this caused a great deal of tension. Prior to this, society had comprised three wide groups by profession: military, religious, and peasants. However, at the time of The Canterbury Tales, a new-fangled middle class of artistes and traders was gaining power in the country. The Canterbury Tales explores the knock-on effect on society and how things changed for everyone.
Another social concern of this era was the enlarged power of the very lowest class. After the large numbers of farm workers were killed by the plague, the people left were in such high demand that they could raise their own wages and literally only work for the employers who paid the highest. This caused such workers to have a great deal of power; they were mobile, both socially and geographically, in a way they had never been before. This change made the wealthy landowners uncomfortable, and they attempted to bring in laws to restrict the lower classes.
The Canterbury Tales teaches readers a great deal about social strata of the time. It provides a rare glimpse into a time when England’s class system grew, diversified and struggled to find a new equilibrium.