Character analysis of the pardoner. The Pardoner Character Analysis 2022-11-07

Character analysis of the pardoner Rating: 8,6/10 135 reviews

In Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," the Pardoner is one of the most intriguing and complex characters. Through his physical appearance, his profession, and his actions, the Pardoner reveals much about his character and motivations.

One of the first things that stands out about the Pardoner is his physical appearance. He is described as a "gentil Pardoner of Rouncival" who is "yong and therwithal well-favored" (Chaucer, General Prologue, lines 858-859). His youth and good looks suggest that he is charming and capable of manipulating others through his appearance alone. Additionally, the Pardoner is described as having a "voice as smal as hath a goot" (Chaucer, General Prologue, line 860), which adds to his image as a deceptive and cunning individual.

The Pardoner's profession is another important aspect of his character. He is a pardoner, a person who sells indulgences, or documents that purport to reduce the punishment for sin. In the medieval Christian church, indulgences were controversial because they allowed people to pay for forgiveness rather than truly repenting for their sins. The Pardoner takes advantage of this system by selling indulgences to anyone who will pay for them, regardless of whether they are truly repentant or not. This unethical behavior shows that the Pardoner is more interested in making a profit than in helping others repent and receive forgiveness.

The Pardoner's actions further illustrate his character and motivations. In the "Canterbury Tales," the Pardoner tells a story about three drunken men who seek to kill Death. The Pardoner uses this story as an opportunity to preach about the dangers of greed and the importance of repentance. However, as he speaks, it becomes clear that he is more interested in selling indulgences than in truly helping his audience. He boasts about the power of his indulgences and tells the listeners that they can "have pardons full large/ For our estate is great" (Chaucer, The Pardoner's Tale, lines 844-845). This reveals that the Pardoner is primarily motivated by greed and a desire for personal gain.

Overall, the Pardoner is a complex character who is revealed through his physical appearance, profession, and actions. His youth and good looks suggest that he is charming and manipulative, while his profession as a pardoner shows that he is more interested in making a profit than in truly helping others. His actions further illustrate his greed and desire for personal gain, making him a character who is both intriguing and deeply flawed.

Character Analysis

character analysis of the pardoner

Elizabeth was the one to remind him that adultery was the one he forgot. Most responses proved to be ineffective for stopping the plague, while others were well thought out and logical reasons to escape the plague and its mortifying power. The description of the Pardoner's hair forms part of his overall depiction as effeminate. He shows what people believed to be the greed of the Church. He specifically personifies medieval rhetoric, or the use of poetic tropes such as metaphor and exemplum to elevate speech and sway his audience. This could be simply because the Pardoner was drunk or it could be that the first story was a personal one. In dramatic irony, the readers know more than the characters do.

Next

character analysis

character analysis of the pardoner

They act as figures who are looked up to but are quite a far cry from that in reality. He knows what he preaches and the effects that it has on uneducated people, but when it comes to applying the lessons to his life he nudges his teachings aside. When heā€¦ Chaucer's Outlook on Human Nature Based on observations in "The Canterbury Tales". . The rakes question his age, and how he has escaped death.

Next

Character Analysis of the Pardoner Essay

character analysis of the pardoner

He also shows hypocrisy in lines 99-101 when he accuses the people and himself as being sinners, only to imply his honesty to the crowd makes him absolved to sin. In "The Pardoner's Tale" the pardoner sells the church's pardons to people who have sinned and seek absolution. Conclusion The greed each man felt drove them to plot against one another so that they might have the gold all to themselves; however, it was this very plotting that lead to all of their deaths. He also preaches against sins, mostly avarice. By accepting bribes to keep his mouth shut, he was essentially blackmailing the men of the community, instead of telling someone like he was supposed to. Once her story is near its end and the knight, her protagonist, is face to face with the old woman, the antagonist, the wife's message becomes clear.

Next

The Pardoner Character Analysis

character analysis of the pardoner

None of his actions relate to his perceived moral principles, clerical status, or to the theme in his tale. A Pardoner is supposed to be responsible for pardoning people of their sins; however, this greedy and conniving man uses the guilt people feel to milk every last cent out of them. Thanks for contributing an answer to Literature Stack Exchange! Irony in "The Pardoner's Tale" Many tales are told in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. What theme about corruption do you think Chaucer conveys through the selection? In this case it tends to be for the worst. These rakes technically do not fit into an estate, they are not those who fight, those who pray, or those who work.

Next

The Analysis of the Sinful Character of the Pardoner: [Essay Example], 1315 words GradesFixer

character analysis of the pardoner

Aside from the obvious differences, like their profession and their raiment, the characters described in the general Prologue have their own personalities, many of which are tainted in some way or another. Through the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in The General Prologue we peer into the lives of the many figures of late fourteenth century England in this estate satire. They exemplify gluttony because they take more than what is necessary and they are greedy. The Pardoner deliberately uses his homiletic skills to persuade his audience to demonstrate their ability to overcome their sins by buying pardons from him to be safe. They all also make an oath to each other to be brothers, yet they kill each other for more money. The outbreak of the plague would have led many to seek forgiveness in the form of indulgences.

Next

Literary Analysis Of The Pardonerā€™s Tale By Geoffrey Chaucer: [Essay Example], 1249 words GradesFixer

character analysis of the pardoner

This highlights the problem of religious figures had during late fourteenth century. Get help now 124 experts online In medieval times, the Church had become predominate in both the culture and domestic affairs of everyday people. He might have been the used car salesman of his time. The rioters are a sign of how these sins for them wanting materialis and for carrying anger. During the mid-14th century, the Christians would have feared dying without forgiveness for their sins, as doing so would have meant eternal damnation.

Next

Essay on the Canterbury Tales: Critical Analysis of the Character of Pardoner

character analysis of the pardoner

. A Pardoner is supposed to be responsible for pardoning people of their sins; however, this greedy and conniving man uses the guilt people feel to milk every last cent out of them. It is through his lens we see the characters and his lens only. Geoffrey Chaucer introduces readers of The Canterbury Tales to an assortment of characters, each with their own unique and notable features. He is a foil to the rioters in that he represents the wisdom of old age. He lets his smooth blond locks grow out long and arranges them in strands about his head and shoulders.

Next

Character Analysis: The Pardoner's Tale

character analysis of the pardoner

None of his actions relate to his perceived moral principles, clerical status, or to the theme in his tale. This particularly wretched pilgrim was the Pardoner: a most loathsome and diabolical character. The Pardoner is speechless, and his repressed motive to expose the direct connection between his relics and his testicles is finally made by someone else. Because of this, we also come to see the problems of the society in which these figures abode. Probably the greatest on is "The Pardoner's Tale". What might he do for a living, and how would that profession reflect his character? It is evident that the lifestyle of Knighthood during this time strips the humanity of a person in favour of societal notions such as honour and sovereignty.

Next

Character Analysis of the Pardoner

character analysis of the pardoner

At the first chance they get to profit themselves separately they plot against each other. Although Chaucer does not give any indication of weather or not this is true, the old man does send the rakes to death. The Pardoners sermon seems to be in manuscript fragment which differs from the other tales. With him he carried a cross of metal set with stones and a glass of pig bones to astound any parson he came across. They gamble the risk of losing everything when the two rakes decide to kill the younger one and the younger one decides to poison the other two, all for money.

Next

character analysis of the pardoner

Sadly, with power comes corruption, and the Church was not above this standard. Both those animals were, and still are, emblems of lechery. He was not supposed to have worldly procession he is supposed to be a man of God but does not live the life style 2. While violence exists today it does in a much more criminalised state. The situational irony there is that John has literally forgotten that one.

Next