Character of Squire: The Canterbury Tales

In The Canterbury Tales¸ there is little description of the youthful squire in the Prologue. However, the squire is known to be the knight’s son. Physically, he has curly hair, is twenty years old, “in stature he [is] of an average length, wondrously active,” (Prologue 83-34) and has great strength. His youth is illustrated as “fresh as…the month of May” (Prologue 92). Not much else is said about the squire’s physical appearance, leaving him as an average man physically.

There is a little more to be said about the squire’s personality. The squire is described as “a lover and lusty bachelor” (Prologue 80). The squire was a romantic always “[hoping] to win…his lady’s grace” (Prologue 88). He was talented and used his talents to try and win the approval of the females. He could sing, play the flute, ride a horse, and write songs, joust, and dance. The squire is “courteous,…humble, willing and able” (Prologue 99).

On the surface, the squire displays the perfect candidate to become a knight in the time period. He devoted his life to becoming a powerful knight, similar to the sons of all knights. However, Chaucer also includes subtle hints at his attraction towards women, which allows for insight to another side of the squire’s personality. The squire is described as a “lover and lusty bachelor” (Prologue 80). He tries to win the women’s love and Is chivalrous. So although the squire appears to be the perfect candidate for knighthood, both physically and in personality, another side of his personality is also displayed in the Prologue.