Casting of The Canterbury Tales

Casting of The Canterbury Tales

The Knight to be played by Heath Ledger

In The Prologue Chaucer states that the knight is a “most distinguished man” and “had followed chivalry, Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy.” I chose Heath ledger one cause he’s “charming” and a knight needs to be like able by the people and well known and popular. Ledger is also shy which also helps cause a knight can’t be showy and always seek the spot light. A knight needs to do his duty and be proud of what he does for the own self-fulfillment of it not the fame. Lastly Heath Ledger played in the movie The Knight’s Tale where he happened to play a knight in the movie, which prepares him perfectly for role of being the knight in the prologue. Also interestingly enough Geoffrey Chaucer is in the movie played by Paul Bettany. So because of all this experience Heath Ledger is the man.

The Squire will be played by Orlando Bloom

“A lover and cadet, a lad of fire, with locks as curly as if they had been pressed” (Chaucer, The Prologue). Chaucer describes the squire as more of a lover than a squire preparing to be a knight. He does not train and fight, as all squires should do to prepare to be a knight. No, instead “ He could make songs and poems and recite, knew how to joust and dance, to draw and write”. (Chaucer, The Prologue) I chose Orlando Bloom cause he is very much a lover boy and a ladies man. He’s always seen with a woman and trying to look good to get another girl.  In Pirates of the Caribbean he was completely in love with Elizabeth Swan and would make rash decisions just for her. In the movie Troy Orlando Bloom caused the Trojan War by taking the king’s wife from himself and could barely wield a sword in the movie. He has many movies where he puts his love for women first and that is why he is perfect for this role of the squire, plus cause he also has magnificent curly hair.

The Yeoman will be played by Viggo Mortensen

Chaucer described the Yeoman as a man of the forest. He described him as a man that “ wore a coat and hood of green…….. and peacock-feathered arrows……. And in his hand he bore a mighty bow.” (Chaucer, The Prologue) He also said that he had a sword and saucy brace and his head was like a nut. (Chaucer, The Prologue) So I chose Viggo Mortensen to play the Yeoman and mainly because of his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings.  His character as Aragorn matched almost perfectly with the Yeoman.  Aragorn was a ranger, a man of the forest who had a bow and sword and dressed with dark green clothes. He also as well had a horn like the Yeoman. He just like the Yeoman was a proper forester, and could hunt and use his weapons effectively like the Yeoman. So because of Viggo Mortensen past experience as being Aragorn I chose him to be the Yeoman.