Essay on The Pardoner’s Tale vs. The Chaucer’s Prologue

Geoffrey Chaucer introduces numerous characters in the prologue of The Canterbury Tales; each character possessing a distinct personality and lifestyle. Chaucer gives insight into the lives of the characters on their pilgrimage to Canterbury. The Pardoner unfurls his thoughts and feelings giving us extended insight into his own character, by providing us with a tale of his own. In doing so, he contrasts other pious figures who are introduced in the prologue, with character traits consisting of an effeminate lifestyle, avariciousness, as well as hypocrisy. The Pardoner is first introduced in the prologue, in which Chaucer describes him as gentle (General Prologue 675). Chaucer gives reference to the Summoner and the Pardoner being†¦show more content†¦Chaucer constantly describes the Pardoner as a pejorative character who is not living life as he should, rather enjoying the luxuries and the latest trends of the world. Aside from grooming in feminine-like fashion, the Pardoner also rides his horse side saddle for he aims to â€Å"[ride] in the latest mode (General Prologue 688). Chaucer insists the Pardoner is guilty of greed which he uses to disguise his hypocritical way of life For in his trunk he had a pillowcase Which he asserted was Our Ladys veil (General Prologue 700-01). Chaucer gives hints as to the Pardoner’s traits that later expand throughout the Pardoners Tale. Chaucer’s portrait of him in the Prologue shows him as deficient in body, depraved in soul, and poor in spirituality. Contrarily, the Pardoners character is centered on the professional activities in The Pardoners Tale. Through his tale, the Pardoner tells of a story about three men who spent much of their time gambling, drinking, dancing, and visiting brothels. The three eventually die through trickery and treachery as a result of their own greed. Ironically, the Pardoner emphasizes his own sin through the telling of his tale: greed. He always has his wallet ready on h is lap (General Prologue 692) because Brimful of pardons come from Rome (Prologue 693). Chaucer indicates that the Pardoner takes bribes to pardon people thus living a hypocritical life. In The Pardoners Tale, the Pardoner not only highlightsShow MoreRelated Canterbury Tales Essay - Sexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner1711 Words   |  7 PagesSexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, an eclectic mix of people gathers together at Tabard Inn to begin a pilgrimage to Canterbury. In the General Prologue, the readers are introduced to each of these characters. Among the pilgrims are the provocative Wife of Bath and the meek Pardoner. These two characters both demonstrate sexuality, in very different ways. Chaucer uses the Wife and the Pardoner to examine sexuality in the medieval periodRead MoreWife of Bath vs. the Pardoners1251 Words   |  6 PagesCharlotte Stern Period 6 March 30,2012 Wife of Bath vs. The Pardoners Geoffery Chaucers The Canterbury Tales is an example of an extremely complicated and wondrous piece of fictional work. The main story lines plot is a contest between a diverse group of pilgrims on their way to Thomas Beckets shrine. in order to win the contest the pilgrim must tell â€Å"tales of best sentence and moost solaas,†, which means the stories must be filled with moral and entertainment to win the feast. EvenRead MoreLiterture Final Exam Notes1143 Words   |  5 Pages1st Semester Exam Review Questions English 4 SELECTIONS FOR TESTING 1. Beowulf 2. â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† 3. Canterbury Tales â€Å"Prologue† 4. â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale† from CT 5. Sonnets 6. Elements of Style author’s names Terms (know by definition, characteristics or example). 1. Kenning: two-word poetic renamings of people, places, and things such as the kenning whales’ home for the sea ex from Beowulf: â€Å"I have come so far