If you think about it, "The Clerk's Tale" is one long story about a dude's continuous failure to fulfill his duty. At first, Walter seems to think that he's pretty much duty-free, but he's supposed to get married and produce an heir—for the good of everyone around him.
As it goes on, the tale explores the question of what lords and vassals—and husbands and wives—owe one another in the name of duty. In most cases, this debt seems to be fulfilled through obedience. Walter, however, delays fulfilling his duty to his vassals because of his insecurities about his wife. He pretends that his heir has disappeared and leaves it at that until ten years after his son's birth. That's a long time to leave people hanging.
The irony of Walter's actions is that he portrays himself to his wife as someone who is bound by duty to do things he hates when, in fact, he is the one character in the tale who appears least concerned with fulfilling the duties his position demands.
Questions About Duty
- Which characters in the "Clerk's Tale" are most concerned with fulfilling their duties? The least? How do you know?
- What prevents Walter from fulfilling his duty to his people? How does he manage to overcome these obstacles, or does he?
- How does Grisilde go beyond the call of duty in the "Clerk'sTale"?
Chew on This
Grisilde's decision to obey Walter when it's no longer her duty to do so is what finally restores his faith in her, suggesting that what Walter truly desires from his wife is love, not obedience.
Janicula fulfills his duty as a subject by allowing Walter to marry his daughter, but he fails his duty as a father by allowing Grisilde to go with Walter.