Chaucer is at once a pilgrim, an "innocent" reporter and narrator, and the author of CT. How do you relate these aspects of his art? (MEG 101 CHAUCER)

Chaucer's position as a pilgrim, narrator, and author of CT creates a complex relationship between the different aspects of his art. As a pilgrim, Chaucer is a character within the story, interacting with the other characters and experiencing the events of the pilgrimage. As an "innocent" reporter and narrator, Chaucer presents himself as a neutral observer, faithfully reporting the stories that the other pilgrims tell.

However, Chaucer's position as the author of CT complicates this relationship. As the author, he has the power to shape the narrative and influence the reader's interpretation of the events. This raises questions about the reliability of his "innocent" reporting and the extent to which he is truly a neutral observer.

At the same time, Chaucer's position as the author of CT also allows him to explore complex themes and ideas that would be difficult to address through the pilgrim or narrator characters alone. Through his authorial voice, Chaucer is able to comment on the stories and characters presented in CT, and to provide his own perspective on the events of the pilgrimage.

Overall, the interplay between Chaucer's different roles in CT creates a complex and multifaceted work that invites the reader to consider questions of authorial voice, reliability, and narrative perspective.