The Pardoner

Definition

The Pardoner is a character in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales,' representing a corrupt church official who sells indulgences and pardons to sinners. His primary goal is to accumulate wealth, often using manipulative rhetoric to deceive the faithful into believing they can buy their way into heaven. The Pardoner's portrayal raises critical questions about the authenticity of religious practices and the moral decay within the Church during Chaucer's time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pardoner is depicted as a cunning and persuasive speaker, skilled in exploiting the fears and guilt of others to sell his pardons.
2. His narrative reveals a deep sense of irony, as he openly admits to his own greed while simultaneously preaching against avarice.
3. The Pardoner carries with him various relics that he claims have miraculous powers, further showcasing his fraudulent practices.
4. Chaucer uses the Pardoner to critique the Church's exploitation of its followers, highlighting the disconnect between religious authority and genuine morality.
5. The Pardoner's tale focuses on themes of greed and corruption, which serves to underscore his own character flaws and the overall moral message of 'The Canterbury Tales.'

Review Questions

• How does the character of the Pardoner exemplify the issues of corruption within the medieval Church?
  • The Pardoner represents the corruption prevalent in the medieval Church by profiting from the sale of indulgences and falsely claiming that his relics possess miraculous power. His manipulative tactics to persuade others to buy pardons highlight how church officials exploited their religious authority for personal gain. This character's actions illustrate a broader critique of how some church leaders prioritized wealth over genuine spiritual guidance.
• In what ways does Chaucer use irony in the portrayal of the Pardoner, and how does this contribute to the overall message of 'The Canterbury Tales'?
  • Chaucer employs irony in depicting the Pardoner as both a preacher against greed and a self-professed avaricious individual. This contradiction emphasizes the theme of religious hypocrisy present throughout 'The Canterbury Tales.' By revealing his greedy motives while delivering sermons on morality, Chaucer critiques not only the Pardoner but also the wider institution of the Church, suggesting that those who preach virtue may themselves be deeply flawed.
• Analyze how the story told by the Pardoner reflects his character and values, particularly regarding themes of sin and redemption.
  • The story narrated by the Pardoner reflects his character's inherent contradictions, as he speaks about the dangers of greed while embodying it himself. This tale serves to reinforce his values, prioritizing material wealth over true redemption. By promoting forgiveness through financial transactions rather than genuine repentance, he demonstrates a warped understanding of sin and salvation, ultimately revealing how twisted interpretations of faith can be manipulated for selfish ends.

Related terms

Indulgence: A remission of the temporal punishment due for sins that have already been forgiven, which the Church offered for sale, particularly during the medieval period.

Corruption: The moral decay or unethical behavior displayed by individuals in positions of power, particularly evident in religious figures like the Pardoner who exploit their authority for personal gain.

Religious Hypocrisy: The act of professing beliefs or virtues that one does not truly hold or practice, a theme that is exemplified by the Pardoner’s manipulation of faith for profit.