The Canterbury Tales · Character
Alison
Eighteen and fresh as a spring lamb, this carpenter's young wife keeps a secret lover waiting while her husband frets about floods.
supporting
First appearance: The Miller's Tale
As a supporting figure in The Canterbury Tales, Alison is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The young and lively wife of John the carpenter, pursued by both Nicholas and Absolon.
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In the Miller's Tale, Alison is the much-younger bride of the wealthy old carpenter John, and her youth and beauty make her the object of every man's desire in town. She is drawn into a dangerous flirtation with the…
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The fuller portrait of Alison sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Alison in The Miller's TaleCharacter Web
7 connectionsA slice of how Alison sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
- Protagonist
- Lower-class and bawdy characters
- Moral exemplars and advisors
+2 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it shifts the focus from the external, ritualistic acts…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
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Alison appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Alison unlock in the free preview.
See Alison in The Miller's Tale