Use of Variety in The Merchant's TaleThe Merchant's Tale tells the story of an old man looking for a wife and finding one, who is ultimately his unfaithful. Chaucer uses a variety of elements in the poem to show his knowledge of contemporary interests and his ability to tell stories through another character. Irony runs through the poem, mixed with allusions to the Bible. Chaucer's use of his astronomical knowledge not only allows modern day scholars to date the events, but also adds another dimension of interest for contemporary audiences and of course pilgrims. January's discussion of heaven and hell leads to the idea of ​​marriage providing a heaven on Earth. A woman is said to be her husband's "earthly paradise and sport" (l. 120), but from the introduction of the idea of ​​paradise, the reader can begin to envision later the introduction of a snake. Chaucer uses heavy irony as Januarie worries about experiencing his only paradise on Earth. It becomes clear that May is anything but his paradise. His behavior with Damyan in the pear tree recalls the story of Adam and Eve and the temptation of the apple tree when Damyan became the serpent in January's paradise of marital bliss. The biblical allusions used in the Tale have the effect of broadening the moral behind the story. Using irony from the biblical stories and Januarie's thoughts, a contemporary audience would have quickly perceived that there would be problems with the marriage, as he would have been relatively well versed in the Bible. The priest at the wedding ceremony “asked [that] I be like Sarra and Rebekke” (l.492). While these two characters are presented as examples of saintly and virtuous women... middle of paper ... the possibility, says Maurice Hussey, that Chaucer knew that St. Damian was the patron saint of medicine, thus giving ironic undertones to the sight-healing excuse for the handstand date. Geoffrey Chaucer used many different aspects of his vast knowledge when writing the Prologue and The Merchant's Tale. The biblical references, parallels and inclusions of mythological characters are proof of this. The appeal of such references to a medieval audience is extended with the inclusion of detailed and seemingly precise astronomical details. These details provide another level of information about the characters and their destiny, such as the future of marriage - which was celebrated when the planet of war and the planet of love were in conjunction. Around these imaginative inclusions are woven a line of irony and a use of contemporary views and literature..