The Canterbury Tales · Character
May
A young bride given to old January in the Merchant's Tale, whose beauty becomes the prize in a contest of husbands, kinsmen, and would-be lovers.
supporting
Also known as Maria, Marie
First appearance: The Merchant's Tale
As a supporting figure in The Canterbury Tales, May is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The young wife of January who conspires with Damian to cuckold her husband.
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May is the fresh, marriageable woman whom the aging knight January chooses for his wife, over the objections of his brother Placebo and Justinus. She is expected to be grateful, fertile, and blind to her husband's…
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The fuller portrait of May sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See May in The Merchant's TaleCharacter Web
9 connectionsA slice of how May sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
- Comic and authorial figures
- Magic and gentility
- Protagonist
- Moral exemplars and advisors
- Noble romance and corruption
+4 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…
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May 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 May unlock in the free preview.
See May in The Merchant's Tale