Jaakobah (Manciple)- Isaiah Anderson

**Minute Summary**: The Manciple's Tale is part of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales". It appears in its own manuscript fragment, however, the prologue to the Parson's Tale points out that it was created as the penultimate story throughout the collection. The Manciple, a food purchasing agent for a group of lawyers, tells a fable about Phoebus Apollo and his pet crow, which is both believed to be the cause of the crow's black feathers, and a parable against the use of gossip. Due to lack of appearance, behavior, and characteristics of the character, the Manciple is one of the least known characters in the Canterbury tales. However, the Manciple's story is a story in which describes his cunning, intelligent, and ruthless behaviors to truly describe who he is a whole.

**Description:**

 The manciple is someone who's in charge of purchasing food, supplies, and more for a group such as a school, monastery or group of lawyers. This particular manciple works for a group of lawyers. Although the Manciple's portrait starts out by holding up this manciple as one who can serve as a great example for other purchasers, it is easy to question the such a man's ethics when after learning that, whether he purchases with cash or on credit, he always ends up ahead in his accounts. Which is why many believe the Manciple is a man of trickery and skills in financial benefits. Because of this, the Host gains more curiosity of the Manciple's dishonesty when he informs the Manciple that the Cook may attain revenge by finding fault with the Manciple's "rekenynges" (financial accounts).[1] The Manciple fixes this by providing even more wine to a dangerous drunken Cook, further causing his morals to be questioned by others.

  Due to lack of Chaucer's information on the character, the Manciple's appearance, behavior, characteristics, backstory, and motives are unknown to the general public. Thankfully, Chaucer's story on the Manciple is a great way to learn of the character's skills, attributes, morals, and more as well as how he affects the story.

**Social Status/Class:**

     Although it is never strictly stated, the manciple is known to be living in the middle class due to the occupation that he holds. In this specific time period, it can be guessed that Manciple's earned much less than the higher class, however, made enough to do activities such as attain an education, eat good food, donate funds to whatever he/she wishes, etc. It is also important to remember that this particular Manciple tricked/fooled his members or co-workers to mess with the appropriate numbers to gain an increased amount of income. Because of this, it is possible that the Manciple in The Canterbury Tales was making as much as a high class social worker.

**Character's Story:**

 "Seeing the Cook drunk, asleep, and swaying in his saddle, the Host tries to awaken him in order to demand a tale. But in spite of the Host's efforts, the Cook falls from his horse. The pilgrims halt and, with great effort, restore the Cook to his saddle. The Manciple offers to tell a tale instead.[2]

In a faraway land, Phoebus is the ideal man: a great warrior, a skilled musician, and very handsome and kind. He has a wife whom he loves more than life itself and bestows upon her all the kindness and love at his command, but he is extremely jealous.[3]

In Phoebus' magnificent household is a marvelous, pure white crow that can repeat the words of any thing it hears. While Phoebus is gone, his wife's secret lover comes to the home and makes passionate love to her. Upon Phoebes' return, the crow tells him the scandalous sight he has seen. In a rage, Phoebus kills his wife. As his rage cools, the sight of his wife's dead body brings great remorse. In anger, he pulls out the crow's white feathers and replaces them with black ones. Then before throwing him out, Phoebus removes the crow's ability to sing and speak. The Manciple ends his tale by admonishing all people to restrain their tongues."

**Imagery/Symbolism:**

     Based on my observations throughout the Canterbury tales, it can be said that the Manciple represented a cunning, intelligent, and evil man due to his actions and beliefs. However, it can also be said that this specific character symbolized intelligence, skills, and the abilities of a lower class individual. Regardless of who the Manciple is believed to be, it is obvious Chaucer created the character to resemble these characters, provide an interesting character to the tales, and leave the readers with a sense of curiosity.

  **Middle English:**

  Throughout the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer created the Manciple's tale by the use of Middle English, however, some of his tale was actually in modern English, making it easy for others to interpret.

  **Sources:**

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   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manciple

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https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/summary-and-analysis/the-manciples-prologue-and-tale

http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-manciple-in-the-canterbury-tales-physical-description-personality.html

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-manciples-personality-like-canterbury-tales-288920

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manciple
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manciple
3. ↑ https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-manciples-personality-like-canterbury-tales-288920
4. ↑ https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/summary-and-analysis/the-manciples-prologue-and-tale