This exhibit focuses on Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a Middle English collection of 24 books written in the 14th century. The entire collection was banned in the United States of America under the anti-obscenity Comstock Law of 1873. I will explore the parts of the book that caused the most uproar including "The Miller’s Tale", "The Clerk’s Tale", and "The Pardoner’s Tale". This will be an analysis of the book that was banned and scrutinized by the US policymakers and it’s contradictory characteristics. Artifacts such as text excerpts, the Comstock Law paper document, photos of the characters from the tales will allow for a more cohesive understanding of the passage which is molded by its diverse range of characters and their profane stories.
These tales within the Middle English collection showcase misogyny, sin, and sexual vulgarity –– all of which were too bold for the American society to come to terms with. This old ban on the text has clearly been absolved as the text has been welcomed back into society. It begs to question America’s decision on what is versus what is not profane for the society between eras. The contrast of the Comstock Law to the American Broadcasting Standards should be referenced when reading the summaries of the tales and should help readers identify historical changes in what it means to be against the grain and vulgar in the American society.
Credits
Alexia Monize