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 illustrated in the characters he created. I have selected two stories, The Prioress Tale and The Knights Tale, from within The Canterbury Tales, which manifest the strengths and weaknesses of human character. Next, I will compare Chaucer's pilgrims to the characters depicted by Dante in the Divine Comedy. The story of the Prioress has its origins in a small Christian town in Asia and begins in a school for young Christian children. The school is located at the end of the street through the ghetto where Jews are segregated, so children move freely through the ghetto to and from school. A young 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 praises the Virgin Mary. The boy decides to memorize the song so he can pay homage to Christmas on Christmas Day....