<Dl> <Dd> The central episode of the Merchant's Tale is like a fabliau, though of a very unusual sort: It is cast in the high style, and some of the scenes (the marriage feast, for example) are among Chaucer's most elaborate displays of rhetorical art . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> The central episode of the Merchant's Tale is like a fabliau, though of a very unusual sort: It is cast in the high style, and some of the scenes (the marriage feast, for example) are among Chaucer's most elaborate displays of rhetorical art . </Dd> <P> The naming of the characters in this Tale is riddled with satirical nomenclature: Januarie, the main character, is named in conjunction with his equally seasonal wife May, representing their individual characters: Januarie is' hoor and oolde', sharing the bare and unfruitful characteristics of his title month, whereas his youthful and' fresshe' wife represents the spring seasons . This has particular relevance when considering the parallel between this tale, and the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve . Januarie's friends are named Placebo and Justinus: the former a sycophant, whose name in Latin means' I will please', and the latter a fairer man (' the just one') with no individual motive . </P> <P> The main character, Januarie (or January), a senex amans, is a 60 - year - old knight from the town of Pavia, in Lombardy . Pavia was a place known for having many banks and brothels (thus revealing certain characteristics about both the merchant and Januarie). </P>

What is the merchant name in canterbury tales