For example, Nicholas' duplicity towards the carpenter distracts John, so that Nicholas can be with Alisoun, his love interest. Nicholas engages this trick to get her love and receive the affection he desperately needs from Alisoun. Chaucer uses the characterization of Nicholas as insidious to emphasize that lusting after a woman already committed to marriage was not a scandalous idea due to the nature of the social sphere in Chaucer's time. The emotional void that the characters in the story feel is filled with greed. Chaucer experienced a similar environment during his life; he married his wife, Philippa, who was in the service of the Countess of Ulster. According to RM Lumiansky of the Britannica Biographies, "in 1366 Philippa Chaucer received an annuity [from the kingdom], and later annuities were frequently paid to her through her husband." Each of the characters desires a sense of security due to the restrictions their society places on them. Chaucer must therefore have experienced the same desire for a sense of security through his vows. Marriage provided essential financial support for Chaucer so that he could create his literary works. Chaucer's action of striving to rise above his status is metaphorically revealed through men's quest for beauty.