The Canterbury Tales is more than an entertaining assortment of stories; it is an illustration of the society in which Geoffrey Chaucer lived. It portrays the culture and class system of the Middle Ages in a microcosm. Every layer of human life at the time was represented by the numerous characters whose stories are told. Each character's basic human nature also plays a role in their stories, and each has within them the strengths and weaknesses that make up all of humanity. Each character exemplifies their life and reputation through the stories they tell. The Pardoner uses his story as a ploy to raise money. His story embodies every mortal sin, and every reader can identify with his story and feel the guilt of his characters. The Wife of Bath's story expresses its ideals in the way her character is given a second chance after committing a crime. Franklin's tale, for its frankness and honesty, is a direct representation of Franklin's simple and joyful life. Each character tells a story that fits their personality perfectly. The tales of these characters represent prevalent themes of the Middle Ages, including greed, the corruption of the religious clergy, violence, revenge, and social status. In Chaucer's society, the traditional feudal system was losing its importance and the middle class began to emerge. The middle-class characters within the Canterbury Tales, with their personal lives and interactions with members of different social classes, gave an understanding of the growth of society, particularly the nascent middle class, during the Middle Ages. The Canterbury Tales examines many important qualities of human nature. Chaucer intentionally mocks the flaws of his characters and shows their hypocrisy and deceit... middle of paper... Therefore, the traditional feudal system fell apart and the middle class began to grow. The middle class tends to question the beliefs of moral standards and religion in their life. According to Chaucer, members of the middle class represent a third of the total pilgrims. The rise of the middle class and the decline of the nobility were illustrated by pilgrimage numbers. Although in Chaucer's society the middle class did not represent a third of the population, he felt it was important to make them an important part of his story, due to their growing importance. The Knight symbolizes those who belong to the highest social class, i.e. the nobility. His peaceful and kind behavior is meant to contrast the lower social class, or Miller and Reeve's characters. The Knight is one of the few characters to have a noble position and maintains the ancient ideals of chivalry.