Sometimes a character is not fully revealed immediately in order to surprise and convey a specific purpose later. Chaucer demonstrates this idea in The Canterbury Tales, particularly with the character of the Merchant. In the general prologue, Chaucer portrays the Merchant as a respectable character; however, he hints at aspects of the Merchant's personality that call into question this respectable image. The Merchant's entire personality is later revealed in his Prologue and Tale, as his cynical and pessimistic outlook is made evident, making him less respectful. In this novel, the Merchant is classified as a seller and merchant who imports and exports goods wholesale from different countries. Towards the end of the 14th century, merchants had an economic and political position, resulting in the rise of their social class (Reale 95-96). Chaucer's first mention of the Pilgrim Merchant describes his appearance; his “forked beard and motley dress” (Coghill 10) are an indication of his social class and type of profession. Bright clothing indicates a lower class and a specific London merchant group, or “livery,” suggesting a lack of integrity. However, extravagant clothing allows this Merchant to stand out and attract attention, so that people will remember him and what he sells (Royal 94-95). Instead, he wore “on his head a Flemish beaver hat and on his feet boots with delicate buckles” (Coghill 10) items he could obtain because he was a trader. These items of clothing were symbols of wealth and suggest that he traded primarily in wool, especially as he traded in "Harwich-Holland", or referred to as Orwell and Middelburg on the Dutch coast (Royal 95-96). Therefore, his whole outfit indicates that, although he is in social decline, he is still able to get... half the paper...." The English Review (2009): 1-4. Student Resources in Context. Web. 3 December 2013. Reale, Nancy M. “Chapter 9: A Merchant Was There with a Forked Pilgrim: A Historical Guide to the Pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.” T. Lamdin, 1999. 93-107 , Charles A., Jr. "The Design of the Canterbury Tales." Companion to Chaucer Studies. Ed. Beryl Rowland New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. Print.Schoeck, and Jerome Taylor Stillwell, Gardiner Chaucer's merchant: no debt?" The Journal of English and Germanic Philology. University of Illinois Press, 1958. 192-96. Print.Zesmer, David M. Guide to English Literature: from Beowulf through Chaucer and Medieval Drama New York: Barnes , 1961. Print.