The Canterbury Tales · Character
Meliboeus
A rich man whose wounded daughter and ransacked house leave him weeping, raging for revenge, and deaf to the one counselor who speaks sense.
supporting
Also known as quoth Meliboeus
First appearance: Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus
As a supporting figure in The Canterbury Tales, Meliboeus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The protagonist, a wealthy man who initially seeks vengeance after his house is attacked.
Meliboeus is a wealthy lord whose home is broken into by old enemies, his wife beaten and his daughter Sophia left for dead. When he summons a counsel of surgeons, lawyers, flatterers, and feigned friends, his heart burns for war even as he asks their advice. His refusal to govern his grief is the hinge on which the tale's long debate about patience, vengeance, and wise counsel turns.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
17 connectionsA slice of how Meliboeus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Moral exemplars and advisors
- Protagonist
- Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
+12 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.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Dame Prudence
family · positive
Dame Prudence is Meliboeus's wise and patient wife who counsels him toward forgiveness… How this plays out →
- Dame Prudence
family · positive
Dame Prudence is Meliboeus's wise and patient wife who counsels him toward forgiveness… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Meliboeus in Chaucer's Tale of MeliboeusIn the story
Meliboeus 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 Meliboeus unlock in the free preview.
See Meliboeus in Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus