substitute reality for the Reeve, in which he subtly releases his lasciviousness
into a more socially acceptable form, the fabliaux. The Reeve and his tale
manage to be, simultaneously, both complex and simple. Os-wald and his
characters seem to fit snugly into a stereotype when they are first described,
but then their actions seem to be guided by an unpredictable force. The pilgrims
are confused by the Reeve even as he is explaining his motivation to them. So
they cut him off from the group even as he is attempting to connect with them.
They will only listen to his tale out of obliga-tion, and hear nothing more. So,
while his story seems uncomplicated, it is anything but, due to the fact that
all of his unspoken thoughts have been conveyed within it. It may be vindictive
and base, but the Reeve?s Tale contains something far more interesting than a
moral: the inner workings of his mind.
Jung, C.G. Psychology and Religion: West and East. New York: Hull, Pantheon
Books, 1958.