The Lack of Interest in the "Shipman's Tale": Chaucer and the Social Theory of the Gift.

Author / Editor
Epstein, Robert.

Title
The Lack of Interest in the "Shipman's Tale": Chaucer and the Social Theory of the Gift.

Published
Modern Philology 113 (2015) 17-48.

Description
The exchanges of goods and services in ShT are often read following Bourdieu's theory that self-interest motivates all human actions. This essay claims that such analyses do not take into account other motivating factors clearly present in the tale, such as conjugal affection and the pleasures of generosity and friendship.

Chaucer Subjects
Shipman and His Tale