Who Is The Protagonist In The Pardoner'S Tale?

In 'The Pardoner's Tale,' the protagonist isn’t a single person but a trio of drunken, greedy men who swear to hunt down and kill Death. Their reckless quest leads them to a pile of gold, which becomes their undoing as they turn on each other. The Pardoner, who tells the story, is also a central figure—a sly, manipulative character who profits from selling fake relics. He’s almost like a villainous narrator, making the tale darker and more ironic.

The three men are the driving force of the story, but their collective actions and eventual betrayal highlight the tale’s theme of greed. The Pardoner’s own twisted morality adds another layer, making him a kind of anti-hero. It’s a clever way to show how corruption and vice can destroy from within, whether it’s the rioters or the Pardoner himself.

The protagonist in 'The Pardoner's Tale' is a bit of a tricky question because, technically, the story doesn’t follow a single main character in the traditional sense. Instead, it revolves around three riotous young men who set out to kill Death, personified as a sinister figure. Their collective greed and arrogance drive the narrative, making them the central figures. The Pardoner himself, who narrates the tale, is also a key figure—a hypocritical preacher who embodies the very vices he condemns. His cynical view of humanity and his own corruption add depth to the story, blurring the lines between protagonist and antagonist.

What’s fascinating is how Chaucer uses these characters to critique medieval society. The three rioters represent the folly of human greed, while the Pardoner serves as a mirror to the hypocrisy of religious figures of the time. The tale’s moral—about the destructive power of avarice—is driven home by their collective downfall. It’s a brilliant piece of storytelling where the 'protagonist' isn’t a hero but a cautionary symbol.

In 'The Pardoner's Tale,' the three rioters are the closest thing to protagonists. They’re reckless, greedy, and determined to defeat Death, only to be undone by their own flaws. The Pardoner, who narrates their story, is equally important—a fraud who exposes human weakness while embodying it himself. Their collective actions drive the tale’s moral about the dangers of avarice, making them central to Chaucer’s critique of medieval society.

The protagonist of 'The Pardoner's Tale' is arguably the Pardoner himself, even though he’s the narrator. He’s a corrupt clergyman who preaches against greed while pocketing money from gullible believers. The three rioters he describes are central to the plot, but their story serves as a vehicle for the Pardoner’s larger message about human folly. Their greed and eventual murder of one another mirror the Pardoner’s own hypocrisy.

Chaucer’s genius lies in making the Pardoner both storyteller and subject. His tale is a confession of sorts, revealing his own moral decay. The rioters’ fate is a grim lesson, but the Pardoner’s willingness to tell such a story—while still exploiting his audience—makes him the most compelling figure. It’s a layered narrative where the 'protagonist' is both villain and critic.