The Pardoner
By: Gianna Natale
Direct characterization
“This Pardoner had a hair as yellow as wax,
Hanging down smoothly like a hank of flax.” (695)
• The Pardoner has long, blonde hair, a hairless face,
bulging eyes, and a light voice.
• He wears a long robe, a satchel with a cross on it, a
small cap with a holy relic sewed onto it, and he rides a
horse.
• He carries with him a cross made up of stones, a glass
jar of pig bones, a piece of St. Peter’s sail and Mary’s
veil.
Indirect characterization
“For well he knew that when
that song was sung
He’d have to preach and tune
his honey-tongue
And (well he could) win silver
form the crowd.
That’s why he sang so merrily
and loud.” (731-734)
• The Pardoner was more towards the bottom of the
Pyramid of Powers. The quote above suggests with his
preaches, some form of money is included.
• This quote also tells us not only does he preach, but he
sing an Offertory at church.
Indirect characterization
“And with these relics, any time he found
Some poor up-country parson to around…
And by his flatteries and prevarication
Made monkeys of the priest and congregation.” (721-726)
• The Pardoner’s deadly sin would be avarice.
When he preached, he was very greedy and
lacked selfless-ness. He always wanted more and
never appreciated what he had gotten from
others.
Indirect characterization
• Being a part of the lower class,
the Pardoner does not uphold
the proper values of his social
position. Not being one of the
most wealthy people, one should
accept whatever they can get. Instead, he makes an
effort to get more because he cannot understand the
concept of “beggers can’t be choosers.”
Indirect characterization
• Chaucer is criticizing how the Pardoner directly
indicts himself of avarice and deception, those
being the exact things that he preaches against.
In the act of curing others sins, he sacrifices his
own being. He doesn’t look at it like that
because he relishes the money he gets out of it.