Essay Summary and Analysis of The Physicians Tale

Summary and Analysis of The Physicians Tale (The Canterbury Tales) The Physicians Tale: As Titus Livius tells us, there was once a knight called Virginius who had many friends, much wealth, and a loving wife and daughter. The daughter possessed a beauty so great that even Pygmalion could not create her equal. She was also humble in speech and avoided events in which her virtue could be compromised. There was a judge, Appius who governed the town who saw the knights daughter, and lusted after her. He believed that he could take the daughter by force. He plotted against the daughter with a churl named Claudius. In Appius court Claudius accuses Virginius of stealing his servant (the daughter), and Appius immediately decides that†¦show more content†¦He chopped off her head and brought it to Appius, who immediately sentenced Virginius to death. However, when the people realized what had happened, they themselves took Appius off to jail, where he committed suicide. Claudius was to be hanged, but Virginius intervened and spared his life. He was merely banished. The m oral of this story: forsake your sin ere you will forsake. Analysis The Physicians Tale is not among the most notable of the Canterbury Tales, significant primarily for the way in which it continues to develop themes more fully realized in other tales. The tale centers around the noble suffering of Virginia, who chooses to be murdered rather than to submit her chastity to a fraudulent man. The Physicians Tale thus resembles the Man of Laws Tale and the Clerks Tale. But unlike Constance or Griselde, Virginia is not the central character of her story. She exists only for the purpose of a single sacrifice, unlike the constant barrage of torment that the other two women suffer. The stature of Virginias sacrifice is therefore diminished. Furthermore, the mechanics of this sacrifice are distasteful. The story focuses primarily on the schemes of Appius and Claudius, who are no more than one-dimensional villains. The sacrifice that Virginia makes is perilously close to murder  ­ the choice that her father offers her between shame and death is nearly a threat, and the means by which her death is achieved isShow MoreRelatedManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesStrategic E-Business Opportunities (and Threats) B2B Applications 260 B2C Applications 263 Two Dot-Com Retailers 264 Two Traditional Catalog Retailers Two Traditional Store Retailers Summary: B2C Retailing 268 266 267 259 239 Contents Dot-Com Intermediaries 269 Summary: Successful Online Intermediary Models 273 Special Issue: What Makes a Good Web Site for Consumers 273 Special Issue: What Makes a Good B2C Social Media Platform 275 Review Questions 276Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesNetworked Organizations 20 †¢ Helping Employees Balance Work–Life Conflicts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most Acts of Workplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women† 12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure