The pardoners prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues people are greedy, weak and hypocritical Discuss Chaucers poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoners prologue and tale in ligh

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 2 essays on Geoffrey Chaucer that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

(a) 'The pardoner's prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues - people are greedy, weak and hypocritical'

Discuss Chaucer's poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoner's prologue and tale in light of this comment.

PLAN

Pardoner - greedy, weak, hypocritical.

* Pardoner's greed is emphasised throughout the whole prologue and tale --> his sermons revolve around the latin biblical phrase 'radix malorum est cupiditas' (greed is the root of all evil) yet openly admits to preaching for 'nothyng but for coveityse' - portrays him as a hypocritical character as he is not putting what he preaches into practice.

* During medieval times, religion was a way of life - life after death/salvation was more important than life on earth and therefore repenting sins was a way to ensure you went to heaven - pardoner is playing on his audience's weakness/fear for his benefit - shows him as immoral and weak. --> openly admits that he 'rekke nevere/than whan they have been beryed, though that hir soules goon-a-blackberyed!' - negative imagery proves his lack of compassion

* Openly admits he is guilty of avarice (which was one of