Hende Nicholas in Canterbury Tales
Hende Nicholas is the one educated character in The Miller’s Tale. ... Nicholas’ actions are not justifiable and the reader should not sympathize with him. The first discourteous thing that Nicholas does is make advances toward John’s wife. Knowing that John has left for the weekend, Nicholas takes Alison “by the queinte. ... Married to an older man, Alison’s romantic life is probably lacking and Nicholas would know this since he boards with the couple. ... The sly, seductive student and the wife’s plan to trick the old carpenter is another point where the audience should not see Nicholas’ actions as justifiable. When Nicholas is locked in his room, John becomes very concerned for him.