DGreer The Cook

Abstract
Geoffrey Chaucer never finished the Cook’s Tale, abruptly ending it after 58 lines. Some argue that this was done intentionally, while others argue that there is more to the story but it has been lost. The Cook, also known as Roger of Ware, is believed to have been based off of a real person that Chaucer knew which adds a whole new aspect to The Canterbury Tales, and makes some believe that Chaucer filled his pilgrimage with real people.

The Cook’s Tale tells of a young apprentice named Perkin Reveler who enjoys drinking, dancing, and gambling. Perkin's master found his cash box completely empty many times and thought about Perkin's joy of throwing dice, debauchery, and womanizing, and realized that he was paying to keep Perkin in his shop. One day, Perkin sought his certificate of release, causing his master to remember an old proverb that states "Wel bet is roten appul out of hoord" (4406), meaning "well better is a rotten apple out of the store" (4406). Perkin's master granted him his certificate and ordered him to leave with "sorwe and with meschance" (4412) ("sorrow and with bad luck!"). This led Perkin to move in with his friend. Perkin’s friend’s wife is a shopkeeper whose real occupation would be similar to that of a prostitute. The tale then abruptly ends without telling the readers the fate of the young apprentice. However, the fragment of the unfinished tale indicates that Perkin rapidly falls into sin. This is implied as the Cook’s tale was supposed to be the same general type of tale as the Miller and the Reeve and was supposed to deal more with the total perversion of the human soul.

General Prologue
379         A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones

380         To boille the chiknes with the marybones,

381         And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.

382         Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.

383         He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,

384         Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.

385         But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,

386         That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.

387         For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.

In the general prologue, we learn that the Cook has an impressive repertoire of dishes and cooking techniques; and that he is able to cook stews, pies, and chicken with the top level chefs. However, we also learn that the Cook has an open sore on his leg and extremely unsanitary cooking practices.

Profession
The Cook’s profession was cooking. During the medieval times, cooks were part of a newly formed middle class, sometimes called the mercantile class. The middle class included all those not in the working class, but not in the upper class either. During this time period, only the wealthy could afford to hire professional or master cooks, so the Cook would’ve provided food for a wealthy family. However, he would’ve been paid very little, likely due to the fact that medieval society valued occupations requiring intellectual or spiritual duties rather than those that mainly involved basic physical needs.

The Cook, much like other members of the middle class would’ve had to work his way up into his profession, as members of the middle class weren’t born into their occupations. He would’ve needed an apprenticeship, then he would need to become a journeyman, then a skilled worker, and then he would’ve qualified for the title of “master cook.” Master cooks at the time could’ve opened up their own business, worked for another master cook, or worked in a wealthy family.

Character Description


Although Chaucher didn’t provide many details on the physical appearance of the Cook, he does tell us that he has an open sore on his left leg. However, in the Ellesmere manuscript of The Canterbury Tales, the Cook is depicted as being slightly round, with dark skin and dark hair. He wears an apron and hat, but nothing covers his legs.

Analysis:
These details suggest that the Cook is skilled at making food, but incompetent and not able to run a shop. He is hyprocritical and fails to see his own failures, and instead only points out the failures and shortcomings of others. Chaucer describes him as an indecent fellow who enjoyed alcohol and is very unsanitary. During the Cook’s Prologue, the Host informs the reader that the Cook purposefully dries out his pastries and that in his shop there are “so many flies loose” (4352). These details tell us that the Cook handles his shop badly. One thing this tells us is that cooks during the medieval times received a mixed light, and that their food was delicious but their practices were not.

Chaucer:
Chaucer does not hold a very high opinion of the Cook. Although Chaucer compliments the Cook's immense knowledge in his field, the Cook doesn't offer many things that are good. The mention of the Cook's sore can be seen as an allusion to this fact; as many wouldn't want to eat a pie from a cook with an open sore on their leg and a chaotic, messy kitchen.

Chaucer also paints the Cook as someone who is untrustworthy, selfish, and deceptive. When the Cook tells the tale of a young apprentice named Perkin Reveler, it can be inferred that the Cook is a hyprocrite, quick to point out the flaws of others while ignoring his own.

References:
1.1 General Prologue, https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/general-prologue-0.

1.5 The Cook's Prologue and Tale, https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/cooks-prologue-and-tale.

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Great Books Guy. “Notes on the Unfinished Cook's Tale.” Great Books Guy, 24 Apr. 2021, https://greatbooksguy.com/2020/02/07/notes-on-the-unfinished-cooks-tale/.

Lumiansky, R.M.. "Geoffrey Chaucer". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Geoffrey-Chaucer. Accessed 7 October 2021.

Ortega, Alyssa. “The Canterbury Tales : The Cook.” Prezi.com, 5 Sept. 2012, https://prezi.com/k5l2e-sptnmp/the-canterbury-tales-the-cook/?frame=b6f094e1becbf4276f47de856e948fa983c140aa.

“The Canterbury Tales.” The Cook's Prologue and Tale, https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/summary-and-analysis/the-cooks-prologue-and-tale.

"The Cook in The Canterbury Tales: Physical Description & Social Class." Study.com, 10 November 2017, study.com/academy/lesson/the-cook-in-the-canterbury-tales-physical-description-social-class.html

“The Cook's Tale.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Sept. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cook's_Tale.

“The Ellesmere Manuscript (The Canterbury Tales).” British Library, The Huntington Library, https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/ellesmere-manuscript.

“Womanizing.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/womanizing.