The Shipman's Tale

The Shipman describes a merchant and his exquisite wife who live in a large beautiful mansion where they throw parties. Right off the bat, I was thinking of The Great Gatsby. The merchant is a frugal man, although his house is lavish. His wife resents his frugality and wishes she had more money to spend on elegant clothing. Daun Jon is a monk who is friends with the merchant and claims that they are related. They swear to a brotherly allegiance, which Daun Jon quickly betrays by taking his money and giving it to his wife, who he also sleeps with. When the wife later tells her husband of what transpired, he decides to forgive her, but demands that she never be so spend-thrifty again. Is the lesson really to be careful how you spend your money and not to be faithful and truthful with your partner? I was expecting the merchant to be upset with his wife for lying to him and having sex with the monk, but he was more worried about his money.


https://uppitynegronetwork.com/2013/06/04/the-american-blackness-of-the-great-gatsby/