Chaucer was not only a Realist but also a social reformer. Discuss with reference to prologue in detail.

Chaucer was clearly disenchanted with the Catholic Church and corrupt social structure of Medieval England. Chaucer is able to critique corrupt institutions, like the church, by invoking satire. He uses satirical rhetoric and humor to expose the hypocrisy of people in positions of power.

Reformer: A person or movement that reforms or tries to reform. Social Reformer: in this context means an author who exposes social injustice or ills and agitates for the correction of these, some one who wants to bring about reform of what they see...

Chaucer is not considered to be a social reformer because while he wrote about social problems he did so with a quiet irony and mild satire that was a much tolerant as it was revealing. Reformers not only depict society realistically, with all its flaws and problems, they also depict the dark side of how these weaknesses affect the human condition and impair human dignity..

Some points are here to explain...

1. Chaucer does not hate his characters

2. He does not give any alternate system

3. His attitude is never that of rejection, rather of acceptance. Coexists with human imperfections

4. A reformer would hate the prevalent system

5. He creates characters in such a way that they do not look detestable

6. Tolerant

7. Does not even have a conclusion to draw