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The Canterbury pilgrims

Chapter 3: DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
By Percy MacKaye
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About This Book

Set in late fourteenth-century England, the comedy assembles Chaucer as a participant and observer among a lively company of pilgrims and additional historical figures gathered at an inn before a shrine-bound journey. The drama presents a sequence of character sketches and comic set-pieces—tavern brawls, bargains over relics, songs, and diversions—while interweaving debates about piety, social custom, and religious reform. Acts and musical antiphons structure shifts from boisterous caricature to moments of reflection, and the ensemble dynamic exposes contrasting social types and tensions between ritual, politics, and personal folly.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

1. Characters based on “The Canterbury Tales.”

MEN

Geoffrey Chaucer, Poet at King Richard’s Court, and Knight of the Shire for Kent.
The Knight (Dan Roderigo d’Algezir).
The Squire (Aubrey), his son.
The Yeoman, his servant.
The Monk.
The Friar (Huberd).
The Merchant.
The Clerk.
The Man-of-Law.
The Franklin.
The Haberdasher, } Members of a Guild.
The Carpenter,
The Weaver,
The Dyer,
The Tapicer,
The Cook (Roger Hogge).
The Shipman (Jack).
The Doctor.
The Parson (Jankin).
The Ploughman.
The Miller (Bob or Robin).
The Manciple.
The Reeve.
The Summoner.
The Pardoner.
The Host (Herry Bailey).
The Canon’s Yeoman.
Joannes, } The Prioress’s Priests.
Marcus,
Paulus,

WOMEN

  • The Wife of Bath (Alisoun).
  • The Prioress (Madame Eglantine).
  • A Nun, her attendant.
  • Mistress Bailey, of the Tabard Inn.

II. Characters not based on “The Canterbury Tales.”

MEN

  • Richard II, King of England.
  • John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, uncle of the King, brother-in-law of Chaucer, and patron of Wycliffe.
  • The Duke of Gloucester, his brother.
  • De Vere, Duke of Ireland, Richard’s favourite.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury.
  • John Wycliffe, the religious reformer, founder of the “Lollards.”
  • Bottlejohn, Host of the One Nine-pin inn, at Bob-up-and-down.
  • His Prentices (Ned and Dick).
  • A Kitchen-boy.
  • A Vender of Relics.
  • Another Vender.
  • A Black Friar.
  • A Grey Friar.
  • A Priest of Canterbury Cathedral.
  • Heralds.
  • Choir-boys.

WOMEN

  • Johanna, Marchioness of Kent.
  • Canterbury Brooch-girls.
  • Serving-maids.

Note.—Those designated as Alisoun’s “Swains” are the Friar, Cook, Shipman, Miller, Manciple, Summoner, Pardoner.