How Does The Pardoner Reflect Corruption In Canterbury Tales Characters Analysis?

2025-07-30 10:53:40 260

3 Answers

Uma

2025-08-02 19:08:20

The Pardoner in 'The Canterbury Tales' is a masterclass in hypocrisy and corruption, and I find his character fascinating because he embodies the worst traits of medieval religious figures. He preaches against greed while openly admitting to selling fake relics and pocketing the money. His entire existence is a contradiction—he tells moral tales to manipulate people into giving him money, showing how corruption can hide behind a veneer of piety.

The Pardoner’s physical description, with his thin, high-pitched voice and lack of masculinity, adds another layer of deceit, as if his very body reflects his moral decay. His tale about the three rioters who kill each other over gold is ironic because he’s just as greedy as they are. Chaucer uses him to critique the church’s exploitation of faith for profit, making him one of the most memorable and vile characters in the collection.

Donovan

2025-08-03 14:53:03

The Pardoner is one of Chaucer’s most brilliantly crafted characters, serving as a scathing critique of religious corruption in the Middle Ages. What strikes me most about him is how brazen he is—he doesn’t even try to hide his scams. He proudly admits to selling fake pardons and relics, even though he knows it’s morally bankrupt. His entire livelihood depends on exploiting people’s fear of damnation, which is both clever and horrifying.

His tale, a moral fable about greed, is dripping with irony because he’s the epitome of avarice. The three rioters in his story die because of their lust for gold, yet the Pardoner himself is driven by the same sin. Chaucer’s genius lies in how he makes the Pardoner so self-aware—he knows he’s a fraud, and he doesn’t care.

What’s even more unsettling is how the other pilgrims react to him. Some are amused, others disgusted, but no one stops him. This mirrors the real-world complacency toward corruption in the church. The Pardoner isn’t just a villain; he’s a mirror held up to society, showing how easily people tolerate hypocrisy when it’s dressed in religious robes.

Hudson

2025-08-04 21:59:24

The Pardoner is a standout character in 'The Canterbury Tales' because he’s so unapologetically corrupt. His entire persona is built on deception—he sells fake relics, preaches against greed while hoarding money, and even admits to using his sermons to manipulate people. It’s like he’s playing a game where the rules don’t apply to him.

What fascinates me is how Chaucer uses the Pardoner’s tale to highlight his own flaws. The story of the three rioters is a lesson in greed, but the Pardoner himself is the embodiment of that sin. The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

His interactions with the other pilgrims are equally revealing. The Host calls him out, but the Pardoner just shrugs it off, showing how entrenched his corruption is. Chaucer doesn’t just criticize the Pardoner; he critiques the system that allows figures like him to thrive. It’s a timeless commentary on power, hypocrisy, and human nature.

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