The Pardoner

Definition

The Pardoner is a character in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales,' known for selling indulgences and exploiting the faithful for monetary gain. He represents the corruption of the Church during the Middle Ages, using manipulative rhetoric to profit from people's sins and desires for forgiveness. His tale, which focuses on greed and its consequences, embodies the central themes of morality, hypocrisy, and the critique of religious institutions prevalent in Chaucer's work.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pardoner is depicted as being morally corrupt and greedy, often more interested in profit than genuine spiritual guidance.
2. His Prologue reveals his manipulative tactics, such as using fake relics to convince people to buy indulgences.
3. The tale he tells is about three riotous men who seek to kill Death but ultimately fall victim to their own greed, illustrating the dangers of avarice.
4. Chaucer's portrayal of the Pardoner reflects broader societal criticisms of the clergy during his time, highlighting the discrepancies between their actions and Christian values.
5. The Pardoner's character serves as a key example of how Chaucer uses satire to critique not only individual hypocrisy but also systemic issues within the Church.

Review Questions

• How does the Pardoner's character serve as a representation of the corruption within the Church?
  • The Pardoner embodies the corruption of the Church by exploiting his role for personal gain rather than spiritual guidance. His practice of selling indulgences highlights the greed and manipulation present among clergy members during Chaucer's time. Through his deceitful tactics and focus on profit, Chaucer critiques how some church officials prioritize wealth over genuine faith and morality, illustrating a significant theme in 'The Canterbury Tales.'
• In what ways does the tale told by the Pardoner reflect its central themes of greed and morality?
  • The tale narrated by the Pardoner centers around three men who become consumed by greed as they seek to kill Death. Their eventual downfall serves as a powerful moral lesson about the destructive nature of avarice. By framing his story in this way, Chaucer emphasizes that the quest for wealth can lead to one's ruin, effectively aligning the Pardoner's narrative with larger themes of moral integrity versus corruption found throughout 'The Canterbury Tales.'
• Evaluate how Chaucer's use of satire through the character of the Pardoner contributes to the overall message of 'The Canterbury Tales.'
  • Chaucer employs satire through the character of the Pardoner to expose and criticize not only individual moral failings but also institutional corruption within the Church. By illustrating how the Pardoner exploits his position for profit, Chaucer invites readers to question the authenticity of religious figures and practices during his era. This critique enhances the overarching message of 'The Canterbury Tales,' urging readers to reflect on genuine faith versus hypocritical behaviors in society.

Related terms

Indulgence: A grant by the Catholic Church that reduces the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins, often sold by Pardoners to generate revenue.

Allegory:

A narrative that uses characters and events to symbolize deeper moral or spiritual meanings, often employed in tales like those told by the Pardoner.

Satire: A literary technique that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize and expose the flaws or corruption in individuals or institutions, such as the Church.