Before the Miller tells his tale, we are introduced to the crude man who is presented as both a drunkard and a man who does not know when to hold his tongue. This shift in storytellers seems to symbolize a break from the idealness and courage that the knight presents, into the lewdness and scandal that the Miller uncovers.

In the Millers Tale, Chaucer seems to give every character an ulterior motive or a scheming personality. And Absolon the parish clerk abuses his church duties to flirt (and perhaps sexually harass) the woman who attend. Therefore we see a cycle of ulterior motives and deceit as a central theme to this tale.

This tale also strongly rivals the Knights Tale in its approach to love. The Knights Tale idealizes love with the virtues of chivalry, courteousness, and courage. The Millers Tale, on the other hand, introduces to the Canterbury Tales the existence of lust, abuse of power, revenge, trickery, and obscenities. Where there was a courtly love in the Knights Tale, we see a duplicitous and lust-filled love in the Millers Tale. Where good morals were the take away lesson in the Knights Tale, the Miller gives the audience a burning memory of revenge and spite. 

This tale shows the separation of social classes as well. The interactions between the carpenter and Fly Nicholas are great examples of this. Nicholas claims at one point in the story that he believes he has a right to Alison over the carpenter simply because he is a scholar. In addition, we see Absolon, being a man of the church, feeling entitled to flirt and chase the women (some who are married) simply because of his position of power.

With the Millers Tale, Chaucer gives readers a new perspective of life in this time. He tells the stories of virtue with the widely renowned characters of this age such as the knight, but also introduces sin with lesser-known characters such as the unholy parish clerk.