The Pardoner
• Social Status: A clergy which was high on the class
scale due to their apparent closeness to god
• In the general prologue (page 51-53)
• “The Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax, but hung as
smoothly as a hank of flax… however, for sport, he wore no
hood…” Showing that he enjoyed attention
• “He had staring eyes just like a hare’s…” Beady, quick eyes
• Womanish voice and no beard which proves he was
castrated.
• “And thus, with false flattery and tricks, he made monkeys of
the parson and the people.”
• He played on vulnerability of both wealthy and impoverished
• Ecclesiastical – didn’t have an official position of the church
The Pardoner
• In the Prologue of the tale (page 507-515)
• “… and I speak a few words in Latin, to give color and
flavor to my preaching, and to stir them to devotion.”
(line 15)
• He would insist that his “holy” relics only cured those
who have committed small sins, but didn’t have the
power to give grace to those who committed horrible,
unforgivable sins. Therefore people who didn’t buy
from him were considered a sinner.
• “But I shall explain my intention briefly: I preach for no
cause but covetousness.” (line 95)
The Pardoner
• In the Prologue of the tale (page 507-515)
• He’s a fraud, took all money for himself
• Boxes of fake papers, bones and cloth which he passes
of as holy relics
• Blatantly honest of his sins and his intentions which is
probably due to the fact that he is drunk
• Aware of his own evil and doesn’t care for others’ souls
and suffering
• “Now that I have had a drink of strong ale… for
although I am myself a very vicious man, yet I can tell
you a moral tale, which I am accustomed to preach for
profit.” (line 130)
Sermon Before Story
• Introduces young folks in Flanders, Belgium, “who
devoted themselves to such follies as riotous
living, gambling, brothels, and taverns… and also
ate and drank more then they could handle.”
• He went of to slightly go off on a rampage about
(page 515-525):
–
–
–
–
Gluttony
Drunkenness
Gambling
Swearing
Source
• The earliest version of this tale is an old Hindu
collection of tales entitled Vedabbha Jataka. Between
400 and 250 B.C.
• Summary: Vadabbna, a brahmin who knows how to call
down wealth from heaven, sets out with his pupil
Bodhisattva (the future Buddha). On the way the 500
Sending thieves capture them and threaten
Bodhisattva’s life to get the brahmin to call down
wealth. Buddha warns the brahmin not to but he does.
Everyone kills each other (even the brahmin) until two
are left. The go to the next town with the treasure, sit
down to eat and poison each other.
Why did he tell this story?
• After the other pilgrims are aware that the
pardoner is drinking and eating, they say to the
host, “No, don’t let him tell us any ribaldry; tell us
some moral thing, so that we can learn
something worthwhile, and then we shall gladly
listen.”
• Morally confused man
• He was drunk and had told the story in repetition,
he told the story out of habit and not emotional
attachment. He also enjoyed other’s attention
even if it was negative. Boasting and bragging.
Contradiction
• “My theme is always the same, and ever was –
The love of money is the root of all evil” (in his
sermons).
Background information
• The Plague
• The pardoner’s relics that he sold could cure certain
medical problems which help him earn a profile during
the time period of the plague in England
Theme: Greed
• “All my preaching is about avarice…” (line 72)
• Radix malorum est Cupiditas, or “greed is the
root of all evil.”
Literary Elements
• Social Status: Trade and/or Peasant Class
• Characters:
– Three rioters who’s sins eventually lead to their
downfall
– The Old man who was covered completely except
his eyes. He insist he is bound to the earth for
eternity and is refuse by death to be taken. He
says it because he is so old and disgusting.
– Dark, enigmatic and hoping death will kill him
Literary Elements
• Genre: Exemplum – a sermon that illustrates a
known moral lesson
• Setting: Below an Oak tree and a bar
• Characterization:
– Direct: For the characters in the story they were
initially part of the Pardoner’s rant so put in a
sinful light.
– Indirect: Throughout the story their personality
are presented through there actions
Literary Elements
• Tone: didactic tone and dark, ominous tone
(almost as if it slows time)
• Symbolism:
The Pardoner’s Tale
• http://vimeo.com/13780892 (1:53)
• http://laughingsquid.com/internet-story-anintriguing-murder-mystery-told-using-theinternet/
• http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_16220120453-501465.html
Plot Synopsis
• Three men decide to find death and kill it for
revenge on its destruction on their friends and
family.
• Come across old man who seeks death as well,
but warn
Satire & Comedy
• Mockery- Of the three sinners who are
scorned and ridiculed by the Pardoner
• Bathos – would do a whole sermon then tell a
silly story, going from serious to ridiculous
• Overstatement – he goes on about the sins he
himself commits