SOURCE: McGalliard, John C. “Chaucerian Comedy: The Merchant's Tale, Jonson, and Molière.” Philological Quarterly 25, no. 4 (October 1946): 343-70.

In the following essay, McGalliard maintains that Chaucer's characterization in The Merchant's Tale anticipates techniques of humors comedy used by Molière.

I

The Merchant's Tale is neither an allegory (despite the names of its major characters) nor a débat (notwithstanding a few passages that fit the genre) nor a psychomachy (though it includes much psychography).¹ It is not, further, merely or primarily a fabliau, although the latter part of it employs a fabliau plot. It is unique among Chaucer's works. There are, however, approaches or approximations.

John, the old carpenter of the Miller's Tale, not familiar with Cato's instruction that like should wed like, had married a young wife. We are told that, being jealous, he kept her “narwe in cage.” (His jealousy could not have been too...