This and the next tale present a “debate” on the role of position and power in this world. The opening lines of The Shipman’s Tale establish this theme. “Once there was a merchant in St. Denys who was rich and was highly respected as wise” (“A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint Denys, / That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.”) The tale itself concerns a rich merchant who has a certain authority over those around him because of his apparent wealth. He also has a wife who has a merry and companionable air. (A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee; / And compaignable and revelous was she.”), but these excellent qualities cost the merchant dearly.
The modern reader may be perplexed, for example, why the merchant refuses his lovely wife money but gladly and readily lends Sir John one hundred francs. Again, the theme of position and power comes to play. In the medieval times, even though Sir John is a monk, he holds a social position higher than the merchant. Sir John is knighted. Thus, the merchant considers it an honor and is flattered to be claimed as a relative to a person of a higher position in the social order.
Sir John is generous; he always brings some gift or money to everyone in the household, even down to the least page, and the servants love him for his gifts. Thus Sir John gives two type of gifts: when he calls the merchant “cousin,” giving him a gift of prestige, and when he brings presents to the household, “they were as glad of him comyng / As fowel is fayn when that the sonne up riseth.”
