The Merchant's Tale
From The Canterbury Tales
Summary:
While providing care for Damian, January's ill attendant, he slips May a love note and she confesses to having the same desires as him. January is suddenly stricken by blindness, and insists that May stay by his side. To avoid being caught, Damian and May devise a plan to have an affair in a pear tree. However this angers the god Pluto who plans to ruin their plan by granting sight to January at the perfect moment. Proserpina, Pluto's wife is on Mays side and grants her the ability to come up with an excuse as needed. So as May leads January into her secret garden, she asks him for help into the pear tree so that she can pick a pear that she describes as a very desirable fruit. But in the middle of their affair, Pluto gives January sight and he is able to see them having an affair, he is very angered at first but May is granted the ability to come up with a great excuse. May calms him down by saying that his eyes have deceived him and since he couldn't see for so long, his vision was distorted and showed him a warped reality
Background of The Merchant:
Analysis:
Research:
"Pluto." Pluto. Encyclopedia Mythica™. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/pluto.html>.
Helpful Vocabulary:
eschew- to purposefully stop using
meekest- to be the most quiet or gentle
solicitude- to care for someone
merriment- fun, enjoyment
Essential Question:
2. How can January be related to Pluto?