# Damian — The Canterbury Tales character guide

> Damian in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Damian Becomen

**First appearance:** 0033-the-merchant-s-tale

## Snapshot

A young squire in January's household whose secret desire for the young wife May turns the Merchant's Tale toward deception and revenge.

## Who they are

Damian serves within the household of the aged knight January, who has recently married the beautiful young May. Burning with love for his master's wife, he becomes the instrument through which May's frustration and January's folly are punished. His presence introduces the tale's sharpest irony: the trusted servant, the secret letter, and the garden tryst that expose how little the old husband truly sees.

## Relationships

### [Palamon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/palamon)

_rivalry_

Damian is a squire who becomes a rival to Palamon by pursuing Emily, the object of Palamon's love.

### [Palamon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/palamon)

_rivalry_

Damian is a squire who becomes a rival to Palamon by pursuing Emily, the object of Palamon's love.

## In the story

### [The Merchant's Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-merchant-s-tale)

January's squire who becomes May's lover, aiding in the deception.

### [The Merchant's Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-tale)

The squire who becomes May's lover and conspires with her against January.

### [The Merchant's Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-tale)

Dan John, the monk who claims kinship with the merchant and seduces his wife.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters/damian
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/characters