draft second nuns tale

8/9/2019 Draft Second Nuns Tale

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Introduction

Geofrey Chaucer uses alchemy in most of his writing to show how influential this

practice and belief was in the medieval era. An alchemist was believed to have the power to

change or transform base metal into valuable material such as gold and silver. They were also

said to have powers to give human beings longevity in life and even immortality.

Transformation. inden proposes that alchemy is the basis of modern science! as it applies some

chemistry and scientific principles "#$%. There is a significant contrast in the use of alchemy in

The Canterbury Taleswritten by Chaucer. &n the tale of the Second Nun! alchemy is seen to occur

for spiritual and religious reasons. Cecilia the nun who is transformed through alchemy is able to

overcome physical pain and torment and even achieve immortality. 'er lifestyle enables her to

be closer to God and see visions that other mortals could not see. She attains sainthood upon her

death to symboli(e her holy e)istence on earth. &n the Canon YeomansTale! the use of alchemy

is reserved for material and selfish gain for particular individuals. The Canon and his *eoman are

career criminals who go around the cities fleecing people of their hard+earned money, they lie to

people that they can transform ob-ects into gold and silver and proceed to perform some trics

that fool the people. Chaucer/s tales emphasi(es the conse0uences of use or misuse of alchemy.

Cecilia! the nun in the Second NunsTale! achieves immortality due to her diligence and

submission to God. &n the Canons YeomansTale! the Canon and his *eoman are doomed to fail!

as they use alchemy for selfish and unscrupulous purposes.


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Alchemy in theSecond Nun'sTale, by Chaucer

The Second NunsTaleis one of Geofrreys Chaucer/s Canterbury Tales! which are set in

the medieval ages. During this period! alchemy was very popular! especially in the religious

dimensions "De2un 34%. The Second NunsTaleis a story of a nun/s life and the manner in which

she lived a holy and moral life up to her death. According to Sadlec! the narrator who is a nun

has to hide her pride of authorship because of moral obligation "para 1%. The story is about a

nun who ascends to become a saint through her good and virtuous deeds. During Chaucer/s time!

a common form of storytelling was hagiography or the saint5s life. The story tells of how a young

woman called Cecilia! who is brought up in strict religious principles. She loves and worships

the 2irgin 6ary and aspires to attain sainthood someday. Cecilia loves the church and the

teachings! such that she upholds her chastity vows and even hopes to remain a virgin forever,

however! the customs and traditions of the time e)pect her to be married at a certain age. She is

betrothed to a man named 2alerian. The two get married and on their wedding night! and then

Cecilia informs her new husband about her invisible guardian angel. She claims that the guardian

angel will ill anyone who will violate her body. The husband insists on seeing the angel! but

Cecilia informs him that his unclean nature cannot allow him. 2alerian is 7unbapti(ed/ and does

not have a strong faith lie Cecilia. 8hen 2alerian decides to be bapti(ed! he rids himself of the

7uncleanliness/ and sees a vision from Cecilia/s guardian angel, his conversion to Christianity

also prompts his brother! Tirbuse! to be bapti(ed.

A 9oman :agan named Almachius found out that 2alerie and Tirbuse had converted to

Christianity! he summoned them and forced them to offer sacrifices to a pagan god. 8hen they

refused! they were tortured and illed, before they were illed! they managed to convert several

officers and e)ecutioners. Almachius also summoned Cecilia and demanded that she abandon her


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faith and offer sacrifices to the pagan god. She adamantly refuses! calling him unwise and

foolish! which causes Almachius to sentence her to death. 'e orders that she be put inside a pot

of scalding hot water! but she manages to survive this ordeal for a day! as the water does not burn

her. Almachius then orders the e)ecutioners to behead her, they attempt to chop off her head! but

fail! although they tried to three times. Cecilia lives for three more days and continues to preach

about Christianity. 8hen she finally dies! she attains sainthood as! :ope ;rban decrees her Saint

Cecilia.

&n Chaucer/s The Second Tale Nun! Cecilia the nun who overcomes the limitations of the

physical flesh and achieves Sainthood upon her death. There is a physical and spiritual

transformation as Cecilia undergoes torture and prosecution, this portrays a form of alchemy. The

tale shows that it is possible for a believer to see things that a nonbeliever cannot see. Cecilia

practices her religion faithfully and her pure state allows her to spea to the angels who protect

her. Alchemy is evident when Cecilia is placed in hot water and fails to burn, this shows her pure

state! faith and devotion to God has allowed her to achieve such supernatural abilities that

astonish the world. She proves to be immortal when the e)ecutioners fail to chop off her head

after three attempts! which is an indication that her spiritual purity has enabled her to be

redeemed from common human limitations. These supernatural occurrences prior to her death

convince people that Cecilia is truly divine and chosen by God. This conviction maes it easier

for her to convert many people into Christianity as they marveled at God/s power in her. The nun

as depicted in Chaucer/s tale is able to communicate with a higher power through total

submission and reverence throughout her life. According to the tale! her commitment and

devotion to a higher deity allow her to have access to an angel and protection "Sis :ara $%.


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As in other Chaucer/s tales from the medieval era! The Second Nuns Taleis a portrayal of

the ideal and perfect human transformation! which can be achieved through a spiritual

connection with a higher power. Cecilia is able to achieve alchemy through her heightened

senses and connection with God. &n the tale! she portrays Christianity as a religion that can

enable one achieve spiritual sight and inner strength. Compared to the pagan religion practiced

by Almachus! who is blind and cannot see that the idols he worships are made of stone!

Christianity offers someone ability to see into the future. According to the tale! Cecilia/s

heightened vision is symbolic to the spiritual and intellectual level of alchemy that she has

reached. 'er transformation through alchemy also enables her to have access to the living God as

opposed to the pagans who worship a stone idol.

Cecilia through her Alchemy was able to reveal the True Gospel of Christianity

She declares that life in the living God is truer than any other ind and she is willing to

give up hers for her faith. Cecilia was able to declare such because of the spiritual purification

and transformation that she had undergone. 6ere mortals who worshipped idols of stone could

not comprehend the depth of her convictions and beliefs. Cecilia is able to help others! such as

Tirburtus and 2alerian achieve this transformation, they even give up their own lives for the sae

of their faith. According to the tale! one is able to achieve this transformation and discover the

truth! if only they detach themselves from sin and material attachments. Conse0uently!

individuals such as Almachy who had no desire in nowing the true God! but chose to worship

idols! would never attain the supernatural state through alchemy.

8hen Cecilia ac0uires alchemy! she is bestowed with nowledge and wisdom that other

mere mortals cannot fathom. Cecilia is one of the virgin martyrs who was able to convert and


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impact a generation through her visions and radical faith. She is able to boldly face Almachus

and accuse him of being foolish and uneducated. She tells him that his soul is void and lacs

spiritual insights to be leader. The tale shows how the nun! Cecilia! achieves remarable wisdom

from God and she is able to endure incredible torture. She is even able to continue preaching

when her head is dangling from her nec, this indicates that alchemy+related transformation is

powerful and precedes all human powers.

Mortality

Cecilia is able to overcome the power of death and achieve immortality .The

alchemy transformation that she undergoes enables her to face the ris of death without

any fear.She is able to live her life fully without the constraints of a dictator lie

Almachius.'er transformed state enables her to overcome imminent death and terrible

torture.This shows that only God who was in charge of her life was able to decide when it

would end. Cecilia !through the alchemy was able to render the powers of Almachius

impotent as he was eager to e)ecute her and put a stop to her religion.The second nun tale

emphasi(es on immortality as a result of ones spiritual commitment. The tale shows how

one can achieve spiritual perfection by submitting their carnal flesh to God/s

power.Cecilia chives this state of mortality through a chaste life and staunch

commitment and devotion to God.&nordr to be transformed! she had to give up her

physical desires hat would hinder her spiritual -ourney.;pon her death she receives the

ultimate reward of being declared a saint.

Valarian and Tirbutius


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8hen 2alerian and Tirbutius are finally convicted and start practicing

Christianity!they too are able to achieve alchemy transfornmation that nable them to

mae good -udgment .:rior to theirconversions and subse0uent transformations! both

2alarian and Tirbutius wer pagans and unreligious.The practiced heathen principles and

did not believe in the living God but worshipd the idols.&t is event that ther is alchemy

transformation in both their lives as they characters change completely upon their

conversions.They achieve inner spiritual vision an profound wisdom that they did not

have before.They are abl to face the dictor Almachius and stand their ground when he

demands they worship the idols.Thy are able to preach and convert many people before

their death.They nowledge of eternal life and understanding of their faith helped them to

mae the decision to give up their lives rather than worship idols.

Chastity

The second nun taleemphasi(es the significance of chastity in attaing

alchemy.Cecilia was able to acheive the transformation through alchemy through living a

holy and chaste life.'er lifestyle enabled her to devote her time and service to church and

God.She did not engage herself in wordly pleasures that would divert her attention from

God.This drew her closer and closer to the state of spiritual perfection.She was able to get

spiritual insight and revelation from God on her future.She was even granted the

protection of an angel whose duty was to ensure hat her mind and body were ept

pure.She was able to maintain her chastenature! even in her marriage as she converts her

husband into Christianity instead. She was able to preach and teach even as she is dying!

this shows that that her transformation was e)traordinary.According to the tale! for one to

achieve alchemy and be transformed into their spiritual nature! a life of chastity is


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Conclusion

Alchemy has caused a lot of individuals to lose a lot of money and other possessions! as

well as their own comple)ion! for instance! the *eoman. &t is also evident from *eoman/s

narrative that the narrator does not condemn the chemistry of alchemy! but instead! the false

crooed and the greedy nature of the alchemists. *eoman believes that one day! the alchemists

will eventually learn and reveal the true philosopher/s stone. 'owever! their success will be

influenced by God/s wish. 'owever! the practice is not implemented in the current century. &n the

second nun/s tale! that was told by a nun! who was concerned only with matters related to human

spirituality. The tale incorporated the elements of Dante. Alchemy is used for the good of the

whole society as opposed to selfish and personal gain. The relationship between the two tales

represents a story that is based on Christian values in comparison to the e)ploitative behavior of

individuals lie the canon who practiced alchemy.


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Sis! eniffer. 9eligion! Alchemy! and Nostalgic &dealism in ragment 2&&& of the CanterburTales! B1B!

httpEJJmuse.-hu.eduJ-ournalsJstudiesKinKtheKageKofKchaucerJsummaryJvB#J#.sis.html

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