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Charting character and caricature in Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” Mr. Cleon M. McLean Department of English Ontario High School Johann Kaspar Lavater was a Swiss pseudo-scientist whose four-volume Essays on Physiognomy (1783) analyzed almost every conceivable connotation of facial features and supplied line drawings of chins, eye sockets, foreheads, mouths, and noses, with interpretative adjectives for each. Physiognomy In the middle ages, people held the belief that your personality type was directly related to your physical appearance and character. People in Chaucer’s time held the belief that the four humors (moistures) were a source of disease and personality types. This theory also involved the alignment of the planets (astrology). Physiognomy Physiognomy was a science that judged a persons temperament/behavior and character based on his or her anatomy (the structure of the body). Physiognomy is important in Chaucers descriptions of the pilgrims in the General Prologue. The Four Humors/Dispositions Sanguine (hot moisture) Choleric (hot and dry moisture) Melancholy (cold moisture) Phlegmatic (cold and dry moisture) These are normally connected to the four natural elements Physiognomy Physiognomy in Silhouette Physiognomy Row one: brutal and cynical Row two: benevolent and tender Rows three and four: stupid and highly sexual Physiognomy in “TCT” The most exaggerated facial features are those of the peasants. The Miller represents the stereotypical peasant physiognomy most clearly, because he is round and ruddy, with a wart on his nose. The Miller appears rough and therefore suited for rough, simple work. The Pardoners glaring eyes and limp hair illustrate his greediness and avarice. Humor: Sanguine Description: blood; hot and moist; causes cheerful personality, sensuality, talkers, lively/impulsive, vivacious, nervy/changeable/outgoing/extrovert Examples from “TCT”: The Wife of Bath Hubert the Friar The Franklin Humor: Choleric Description: yell