The Pardoner’s Tale’ Analysis PDF

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The Pardoner’s Tale’ Analysis 1) Chaucer expresses his negative views against the Church of Rome, through the attitude of the pardoner and his abuse of power against the public. In the Pardoner’s prologue, he explains how he abuses his power to manipulate people into donating money to the church, whilst keeping a part of it. He states he uses fake relics such as “boon… if cow, or sheep, or oxe swelle”, claiming that they have the ability to heal “of pokes and of scabble, and every soore”. Chaucer is emphasising the corruption within the Church of Rome through the exaggerated and ridiculous deceits to “stire hem [people] to devocioun”. He is implicative that the people of the Church of Rome abuses their power in order to steal and trick people into giving money out of fear, but in reality, it is a hoax to lure and take people money. Despite such negative criticism to the corruption within the Church of Rome, Chaucer agrees with the morals and doctrines that base the church of Rome. Through the pardoner, he continuously emphasises how “Radix malorum est Cupiditas”, highlighting the hypocrisy of the greedy actions of people from the Church of Rome who follow and preach this message. 2) Chaucer explores the detrimental nature of greed through the actions and consequences of the three men as a result of being consumed by greed. Greed is related to catholic values as being one of the seven deadly sins, with Chaucer constantly using biblical allusions. The two older men plot against the youngest man as a result of being cosumed by greed in, “And here is gold, and that a ful greet plentee” and “That it departed were amongst us two”. The men are perfectly aware that even if the money was split 3 ways, there would be extremely rich, bus as they as consumed by greed, they begin to plot the murder of the third younger man, alluding to Chaucer’s exploration of the detrimental nature of greed. Chaucer’s use of violent imagery and language in “Mo wonder signees of empoinsonging” and “O trahtours homycide”, reveals the consequences due to the nature of greed. Chaucer emphasis that greed leads to catastrophic consequences and expresses through the death of all three men after being controlled by greed, emphasising to Chaucer’s exploration of the nature of greed. 3) Chaucer explores mortality as an inevitable and natural part of life in the Pardoner’s Tale, whilst referencing to Catholic values. His exploration of mortality is observed through the old man, being unable to die, yearns for it more than anything else in, “I knookke with my staf, bothe erly and late”…“And seye ‘Leeve mooder, leet me in!’”, referring to the ground where he wants to be buried as his mother, symbolising the relationship with death as close, intimate and an inevitable part of life, the same way our mothers are in our lives. Chaucer also references to the Catholic principles about death, through the Pardoner’s messages and meaning behind his story. He continuously emphasises the relationship of sin and death, as well as the ideal of how God controls the fate of people. During

the ending of the story, he states, “O cursed synne of alle cursednesse!” and “thou blasphermour of Crust with vileynye”. alluding to the Catholic principle of how sin is the cause of death. Chaucer explores that disobeying God through acts such as sin and “blasphermour” causes the mortality of people.

4) Chaucer expresses his message and views to the church of Rome thorugh his use of language and story telling. Through the character of the pardoner, Chaucer uses strong and figurative language to express his views of the Catholic church and its principles. In the beginning of the prologue, the Chaucer uses biblical allusions in “Radix malorum est Cupiditas” and in “hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe” to reflect his views of the Catholic church. Chaucer uses this dialogue to implicate that he agrees with the doctrines and principles of the Roman Church, however, conveys the message that people who work for the church can be manipulative and corrupt. The use of storytelling and narratives by Chaucer also expresses the power of language, as he uses it to convey his messages about his views of the Catholic Church. Through the story of the three men, Chaucer reveals the Catholic princples, thus revealing his views about the Church of Rome. As the Pardoner explains, “my theme is alwey oon, and evere was … Radix malorum est cupiditis” and “no man… to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk” conveying the power of story teling. Chaucer infers that his story telling can influence and effect people to believe in the catholic faith, making narrative that shape the world....