The+Doctor

=The Doctor =



Overview

=
The doctor was an intelligent man infinitely knowledgeable in medicine and surgery. He used his astronomy background to treat his patients based on their horoscopes and favorable times of day. He also made "charms and effigies" to aid his patients in the healing process. He was capable of diagnosing every patient with any malady due to a disturbance of one of the four humors. Apothecaries were always at his disposal to supply any drugs or medicine he prescribed. Both he and the apothecaries would "make money from the other's guile." He was extremely fluent in the teachings of numerous physicians and medical authorities such as Hippocrates and Constantine. Unlike the nun and monk who were selfish in their desires, the doctor made it a point to eat only healthy foods and "there were no superfluities for pleasure." He was, however, a fine dresser and "had a special love of gold," for he "kept the gold he won in pestilences." =====



Characterization
 * Knowledgeable
 * Intelligent
 * Well-read
 * Healthy
 * Non-religious
 * Fine dresser
 * Greedy
 * Successful

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Questions 1. What specific occupation does your character practice? - Our character practices medieval medicine as a medical doctor.

2. What is Chaucer's tone toward this character and how does he convey it? - Chaucer seems to portray various tones toward the Doctor. The most predominant is the ironic tone. The Doctor is a typical satirized character. He is thought to be the perfect doctor, treating anyone and caring about his patients. He is portrayed as successful and never wrong in his diagnosis. But he's really in it for the money. - A wry tone is also portrayed by Chaucer. Wry is defined as devious in course or purpose and misdirected. It basically goes hand-in-hand with the ironic tone, because it stresses his deviousness toward his patients. He is misleading in his diagnosing. - There can also be an irreverent tone because of the Doctor's irreligiousness. He is a secular character who rarely reads the Bible.

3. What was his or her social standing? - The Doctor was considered to be in the upper class. He was rich because he made good money from his work. It was apparent by the way he dressed.

4. What might your character's day to day life be like? - The Doctor's typical day most likely consisted of him diagnosing patients, consulting with his apothecaries, and reading the stars.

5. What details does Chaucer include about the character's physical appearance and personality? - Chaucer expresses the Doctor as a bit of a lavish dresser. He wore taffeta, a fine silk, on his clothing. However, the clothing he wore wasn't expensive, even though it looked it. He was a greedy man. He had a lot of money, but didn't like to spend it. He had an obsession with gold, refraining from excessive spending. He just liked the idea of having it. Unlike the Nun and Monk, he was a conservative eater. He ate healthy and would not indulge like the other characters.

6. What modern day occupation might correspond to your medieval character and why? -The Doctor is similar to both a modern-day physician and an astrologer. He uses the constellations and horoscopes to treat patients.

Unfamiliar Words
 * Apothecary (n.) - a pharmacist or druggist.
 * Effigy (n.) - a statue or other image; often a crude representation of a despised person that is hanged or burned to show protest.
 * Guile (n.) - slyness and cunning in dealing with others.
 * Malady (n.) - a disease; illness.
 * Pestilence (n.) - a deadly epidemic disease; plague; anything regarded as harmful.
 * Superfluities (n.) - things that are excessive or unnecessary.