Bad Medicine Essay, Research Paper
Bad Medicine
Before the age of television shows, movies, and the Internet people entertained one another with vibrant and exaggerated tales. Geoffrey Chaucer’s, The Canterbury Tales, is a good example of this form of entertainment. The novel details the journey of a band of pilgrims, who engaged in a storytelling competition, as they travel toward the shrine of Thomas ? Becket. These Middle Age storytellers varied as much as the stories, and consisted of a knight, physician, monk, and many more. In “the Prologue” the Physician is revealed as a con artist who cares more about himself than his patients.
The Physician was a medical doctor, who was responsible for taking care of the ill and disease stricken. “No one alive could talk as well as he did / On points of medicine and surgery…” (Chaucer 30). He was part of the rising middle class society and his garments that were “lined with taffeta” (Chaucer 31) made this assumption apparent.
During the Middle Ages taffeta was a material like silk, which was very expensive, so only the wealthy could afford it. To many he seemed to be a productive member of society, but appearances can be deceiving. People of the medical profession were looked upon with a certain respect; so many patients did not question what was prescribed. The Physician misused his title to take advantage of his patients’ faith.
He was revealed as a liar and a cheat. He was a partner with the druggist, to help each other build their wealth.
The reader can draw the appearance of his deceit in the following quote, “He gave the man his medicine then and there. / All his apothecaries in a tribe / Were ready with the drugs he would prescribe / And each made money from the other’s guile; / They had been friendly for a goodish while” (Chaucer 30). Chaucer describes these habits of the physician in order to allow the reader to paint a mental picture of his morals and character. Chaucer also brings the readers attention to the fact that the Physician “did not read the Bible very much” (31). Chaucer implies that the Physician is a sinner, who did not see an error in his dishonesty.
Many analysts believe that Chaucer was trying to portray certain qualities through the vivid descriptions of the characters’, such as in the following quote describing the physician; “In blood-red garments, slashed with bluish grey / And lined with taffeta …” (Chaucer 31). The reader could infer that the red represented his deceit of the people, whom he treated and the slash of bluish grey could represent his internal struggle to be honest. The color of a person’s wardrobe during the Middle Ages often showed their social status. The wealthy usually wore brightly colored garments and the lower class wore pale colors such as grey and black (“Middle Ages Clothing”). The blood-red garments could represent his wealth, and the grey shows that his wealth is tainted by his deception of the people that trusted him.
Various admirers believed that, Chaucer himself seemed to dislike the physician. John Gardner, a critic, claimed the Physician’s tale is an example of Chaucer’s intentionally “bad art”. Chaucer, so the theory runs, disliked the Physician because of his defrauding ways, and so gave him a bad tale in order to punish him.
Chaucer used sarcasm and irony to describe the physician and to show his dislike of him in the quote, “He was a perfect practicing physician” (Chaucer 30). The Physician may not be considered Chaucer’s best work, but it deserves its place with the rest of The Canterbury Tales and recognition for being the best of the worse.
Even though the time period has changed, it seems that people’s actions have not.
Even in today’s society some physicians are still corrupt, many being entangled in insurance and Medicare fraud. Every year more than an hundred physicians are charged with fraud but in most cases 57.4 percent have no action taken against them (“Insurance Fraud”). Because the lack of punishment many physicians continue to defraud their patients and insurance companies, but people today are becoming more aware and taking steps to protect their selves. The way that physicians during the Middle Ages practiced medicine is very different than today’s physicians, they no longer rely on horoscopes or the alignment of the planets (Chaucer 30) but one thing is still the same, some care only about their wealth.
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1977.
Gardner, John. The Poetry of Chaucer. 1977, pp. 293-308. icg.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/canttales/physt/
“Insurance Fraud” insurancefraud/
“Middle Ages Clothing”learner/exhibits/middleages/clothing.html
Другие работы по теме:
Othello Act Iv Essay Research Paper Othello
Othello Act Iv Essay, Research Paper Othello Journal Act IV In Act IV of Othello, by WIlliam Shakespeare, Iago continues his torture of Othello. Iago torments Othello until Othello pratically faints. He keeps pushing
The Songmaker Essay Research Paper The Songmaker
The Songmaker Essay, Research Paper The Songmaker by Blackbear Bosin, displayed at the Indian Center Museum in Wichita, is an interesting painting. The painting was done in 1970 using gouache and painted on a thirty inch by twenty-two inch canvas. It is in a private collection and the value of the painting is unknown.
Medicine In The Renisance Essay Research Paper
In the Renaissance, some aspects of medicine and doctors were still in a Dark Age. Outbreaks of disease were common, doctors were poor, medicine was primitive and many times doctors would kill a patient with a severe treatment for a minor disease! But, there were other sections where medicine and the use of medications improved greatly.
Love Medicine Essay Research Paper The author
Love Medicine Essay, Research Paper The author tells the story of two Native-American (Chippewa) families whose lives interweave through several generations during the years 1934-1984. The primary setting is a reservation in North Dakota. The main characters, Marie and Nector Kashpaw and Lulu Lamartine, are colorful, sympathetic people caught in a love triangle that endures for most of their adult lives. “Love medicine” represents an attempt by a Kashpaw grandson to assure once and for all that his aging grandfather will love and be true to his wife and cease “hankering after the Lamartine.” The plan ends in disaster when corners are cut and the authentic old Indian customs for preparing the “love medicine” are circumvented.There is a strong sense of the blending of cultures–religion, medicine, commerce, education all take on the distinctive qualities of an evolving mixed culture.
Hippocrates Essay Research Paper Hippocrates the Father
Hippocrates Essay, Research Paper Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine Hippocrates, greatest physician of antiquity, is regarded as the father of medicine. Born on the island of Kos, Greece in the year 460 b.c., says the earliest biography written by Soranus of Ephesus in the a third century a.d. Although a native of Kos he was forced to leave the island as the result of a fire for which he was blamed.
Medical Treatment Essay Research Paper Throughout the
Medical Treatment Essay, Research Paper Throughout the years medical technology has increased tremendously. We have been able to transplant organs, increase the birth survival rate, and we are even able to clone animals. We are now able to live longer that ever before, trying to elude the inevitability of death.
Depression Essay Research Paper Depression
Depression Essay, Research Paper Depression Depression, it is defined by Webster’s Unabridged Edition Dictionary as: in psychology, an emotional condition, either normal or pathological,
Frederick Banting Essay Research Paper Frederick BantingDiabetes
Frederick Banting Essay, Research Paper Frederick Banting Diabetes is a chronic disorder in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Insulin is an important hormone for the metabolism of sugar in the body. When the pancreas fails to provide the body with insulin, these sugar build up in the blood stream.
Night And Day Essay Research Paper Night
Night And Day Essay, Research Paper Night and dayLike a spouse and a lover, medicine and writing occupy separate parts of my life, and I do everything in my power to prevent them meeting. My novels have never dealt directly with the stuff of my day job. Fiction sustains a side of me that would suffocate in medicine.
Vdg Essay Research Paper Raintree
Vdg Essay, Research Paper Raintree’s website is dedicated to providing information and education on the important plants of the Amazon Rainforest, therefore this section is the most extensive. The Plant Database section is continuously under construction as we continue to add more rainforest plants which are under research.
Nature Vs Science Essay Research Paper In
Nature Vs Science Essay, Research Paper In the article The Myth of Beneficent Nature: The Risks of Herbal Preparations , is a persuasive article by Ryan J. Huxtable. In the article Huxtable is arguing that herbal teas and medicines are not healthy and should be band. After reading the article, I disagree with Huxtable, and he was not able to convince me.
Pediatrics Essay Research Paper Pediatrics branch of
Pediatrics Essay, Research Paper Pediatrics, branch of medicine, that comprises the care and treatment of the diseases of childhood and the study of normal growth. Pediatrics became a specialty in the 20th century. In the 1980s some pediatricians began a subspecialty called adolescent medicine, which deals with the special medical and emotional needs of persons between the ages of approximately 12 and 20 years.
Medicine And Advertising Essay Research Paper There
Medicine And Advertising Essay, Research Paper There are millions of Americans today whom suffer from allergies, catch colds or burn from hot fevers. These Americans depend on over the counter drugs, which are convenient to attain. I believe that the average American who has caught the common cold in the winter would just run to the nearest store to get some medicine rather than make an appointment with the doctor to get a simple prescription.
Elizabeth Blackwell Essay Research Paper Blackwell Elizabeth
Elizabeth Blackwell Essay, Research Paper Blackwell, Elizabeth (1821-1910) Elizabeth Blackwell was born on Feb. 3 1821,in Bristol New York. She was one of the nine children of Samuel Blackwell. Samuel Blackwell was a prosperous sugar refiner. Elizabeth Blackwell and her family moved to N.Y.C. When she was eleven.
Veterinary Medicine Essay Research Paper Veterinary
Veterinary Medicine Essay, Research Paper Veterinary Medicine For my agriculture report, I chose to do a report on veterinarians. I chose this career field because I like working with animals and learning about them. While doing my report I learned more then I thought there was to learn about animals and becoming a veterinarian.
Marijuana 6 Essay Research Paper Medical MarijuanaMarijuana
Marijuana 6 Essay, Research Paper Medical Marijuana? Marijuana, a drug that has been studied for many decades, provides for a very heated argument. No longer is it seen solely as a hallucinogen, but some claim that it is miracle drug for chemotherapy and glaucoma patients. However, no legitiment medical organizations, see marijuana as a safe and effective medicine.
Nuclear Medicine Essay Research Paper Nuclear MedicineThere
Nuclear Medicine Essay, Research Paper Nuclear Medicine There are many things to be said about Nuclear Medicine. During the 20th century the world has seen many changes in medicine. One of the most ingenious creations of the century in the health field is Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. It is easily argued that modern medicine is the greatest accomplishment in human history1.
Technology Essay Research Paper People very often
Technology Essay, Research Paper People very often debate whether technology is good or bad. Many people believe that technology can only cause harm to their lives and society, while many others strongly defend the technologies which have made their lives much more leisurely and enriching than it could have been several hundred years ago.
Welty
’s A Worn Path Essay, Research Paper The Long Road Eudora Welty s short story A Worn Path is about a lonely, elderly colored woman and her journey to get to town. The main character fights with herself and nature in her battle to get into town. The reason why Welty s main character is so desperate to make it to and from town is to pick up medicine for a sick grandchild.
Human Cloning Essay Research Paper Cloning humans
Human Cloning Essay, Research Paper Cloning humans can be very beneficial. Although cloning has a low success rate, with more research and support, it can become very useful to our society. We will be able to clone people for adoption and clone organs for transplants that would save lives. We could also use research on animals to cure or help diseases and disease research.
Legalizing Marijuana Essay Research Paper Marijuana has
Legalizing Marijuana Essay, Research Paper Marijuana has been used throughout history in many different cultures to change mood, perception, and consciousness – in other words, to get high. Its effects range from increasing
American Medical Association Essay Research Paper American
American Medical Association Essay, Research Paper American Medical Association One of the main topics on everybody’s mind as the new millennium is coming up is their personal health. To make sure that there are sources for people to use to accomplish good health, the American Medical Association was created to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
Pacific Disease Essay Research Paper There was
Pacific Disease Essay, Research Paper There was a terrible disease on an island far off the Pacific Ocean. There were five people, six totals including me. I was the only one who had the medicine that can cure the disease. Only problem is, the medicine is enough for one person and one person only. Who will I choose? Ok let?s just get this straight.
Darwin Research Essay Research Paper Darwin was
Darwin Research Essay, Research Paper Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He was the son of Robert Waring Darwin and his wife Susannah; and the grandson of the scientist Erasmus Darwin, and
Miniver Essay Research Paper The worn path
Miniver Essay, Research Paper The worn path is about conflict. Praytell, you ask what conflict. The obvious conflict is that an elderly lady needs to get medicine for her sick grandchild, and she has to make perilous journey to reach her destination. Now, why in the hell is an old woman gallivanting through the woods.
Louis Pasteur Essay Research Paper The French
Louis Pasteur Essay, Research Paper The French chemist Louis Pasteur devoted his life to solving practical problems of industry, agriculture, and medicine. His discoveries have saved countless lives and created new wealth for the world. Among his discoveries are the pasteurization process and ways of preventing silkworm diseases, anthrax, chicken cholera, and rabies.
The Dialogue With Alternative Medicine Essay Research
Paper Conventional medicine has little to learn from alternative medicine Suppose you catch a sudden flu after a frantic night out, what would be your first treatment? Do you rush to the pharmacist nearby or your
Physician Assistant Essay Research Paper What is
Physician Assistant Essay, Research Paper What is a physician assistant? Academically and clinically prepared to practice medicine with the supervision of a doctor, the assistant physician practices medicine. The doctor that supervises the physician assistant is licensed with medicine or osteopathy.
Conventional Medicine And Alternative Medicine Essay Research
?Conventional medicine has little to learn from alternative medicine?. Today many people in the UK and US choose to be treated by methods that are not based on Western scientific methods, that is the science and practice of medicine which is standard in the West. These methods are known as ?Alternative medicine? or ?Complementary medicine? ,which include homeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy, aromatherapy, chiropractic medicine, and reflexology among others.