The prioress is a rank for a woman who is the head of a Priory, a religious place in Christian community or Convent for nuns. She holds the same monastic rank as that of a Prior (man).

What kind of person is the prioress?

She is selfless, amiable, and is described as being so delicate that she almost seems fragile and breakable. However, she is revealed to be quite coy and secretive. She is nearly the opposite of what a nun was expected to be.

Why is the prioress important?

The Prioress is important to The Canterbury Tales because she is one of the only devout people on the pilgrimage, one of the only people actually going on the pilgrimage to worship. Though Chaucer's description of her in the General Prologue is rather unflattering, her tale attests to her true piety.