The Canterbury Tales are more than an amusing assortment of stories; it is an illustration of the society in which Geoffrey Chaucer lived. It depicts the culture and class system of the medieval era in microcosm. All layers of human life of the time were represented by the many characters whose stories are told. Each character's basic human nature also plays a role in their stories, and each has within them the strengths and weaknesses that make up all of humanity. Each character illustrates their life and reputation through the stories they tell. The Pardoner uses his story as a money-making ploy. His story embodies every mortal sin, and every reader can identify with his story and feel the guilt of his characters. The Wife of Bath's story expresses its own ideals in the way her character is given a second chance after committing a crime. Franklin's story, because of its simplicity and honesty, is a direct representation of Franklin's simple and joyful life. Each character tells a story that matches their personality. The tales of these characters represent themes prevalent in the Middle Ages, including greed, corruption of religious clergy, violence, revenge, and social status. In Chaucer's society, the traditional feudal system was losing its importance and the middle class was beginning to emerge. The middle-class characters in The Canterbury Tales, with their personal lives and interactions with members of different social classes, provided an understanding of the growth of society, particularly the rising middle class, in medieval times. The Canterbury Tales examines many important qualities of being human. nature. Chaucer deliberately mocks the flaws of his characters and shows hypocrisy and deception...... middle of paper...... As a result, the traditional feudal system collapsed and the middle class began to grow. The middle class tends to question moral and religious beliefs in their lives. Chaucer has members of the middle class who make up a third of the total number of pilgrims. The rise of the bourgeoisie and the decline of the nobility are illustrated by the number of pilgrimages. Although in Chaucer's society the middle class did not make up a third of the population, he felt it was important to make them a large part of his story, due to their growing importance. The knight symbolizes those who belong to the highest social class, or nobility. His peaceful and gentle behavior is meant to contrast with the lower social class or with Miller and Reeve's characters. The knight is one of the only characters to hold a noble position and he holds to the ancient ideals of chivalry..