The Friar Portrait

    Chaucer uses irony as he states that the Friar is a “ful solempne man” which implies that the Friar is a most impressive man. The irony of this comes out in the next lines as Chaucer states that while hearing confessions the Friar gave the best pardon to those who contributed the maximum amount of money. This indicates the Friars concern for profit and shows his moral corruptness as he uses his status in society to receive benefits rather than doing his actual job which is to preach and to be faithful and follow the Catholic religion. Instead the Friar uses religion for personal gains and is actually unreligious as he commits such sin. He is a pretentious and dishonest man.

     Chaucer describes that the Friar led a pleasurable way of life. The Friar commits venal sin as he seduces village girls. Chaucer’s lecherous Friar has arranges marriages of many young girls whom he had seduced. His hood is always stuffed with knives which he gives to pretty wives. The Friar is very familiar with the rich and powerful men of his town. He claims to have more power to hear a confession han a parson does and his absolution is pleasant since he easily grants pardon whenever he is certain of a good offering. He argues that many hard-hearted men could not weep even if they are truly repentant for their sins. This shows the complete distortion and debasement of the whole process as the Friar treats it as a cash transaction.

      This corrupt Friar is well acquainted with all the innkeepers and barmaids as he states “famulier was he with frankeleyns over al in his contree”. Chaucer sarcastically comments that it is neither fitting nor profitable for the Friar to associate himself with the poor. He is indeed the best beggar of his order and has the ability to extract money from even the poorest of the poor. For even if a poor widow did not have a shoe / sou (French coin), the Friar’s recitation of "In principio" was so pleasant that he would extort a farthing from her before he left. The proceeds of his begging were far greater than the rent that he paid to the church. During “love-dayes” which were days for settling disputes amicably the Friar participated. This is an indirect criticism since the readers know that the Friar does not associate with the poor. The Friar is wearing a well pressed double worsted coat. His name is Hubert and he lisps in order to make his speech sound sweet. His eyes twinkle in his head like stars in a frosty night.

     Chaucer’s ironic portrait of the merry, sweet, pleasant and worthy Friar is ironic as it is only a mask which the Friar wears on the exterior. Internally the Friar is a corrupt dishonest and disloyal person to his religion as he clearly lives in contrast to Christian behaviour and principles.