The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a work that resembles both a historical and sociological introduction to the late Middle Ages. Chaucer's ability to interpret basic human nature from different points of view is exemplified in the characters he created. I have selected two stories, The Prioress Tale and The Knights Tale, within the Canterbury Tales that manifest the strengths and weaknesses of the human character. Then I will compare Chaucer's pilgrims with the figures portrayed by Dante in the Divine Comedy. The Prioress's tale originates in a small Christian town in Asia and begins in a school for Christian children. The school is located at the end of the street that runs through the ghetto where Jews are isolated, so children walk freely through the ghetto to and from school. A little boy, the son of a widow, hears children singing O Alma Redemptoris and decides to learn the song. He asks a classmate what the song is about and learns that the song is in praise of the Virgin Mary. The boy decides to memorize the song so he can venerate it on Christmas Day...