Greed In The Pardoner's Tale

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What is the best thing to do if you came across a bushel of gold? Of course we would all love to say we would return it to its rightful owner. But what if no one would see you if you took just a handful? It makes you think. The Pardoner spoke of greed and it being the root of all evil or “Radix malorum est cupitditas.” However, it was incredibly ironic to have come from a greedy, and now, a hypocritical man. The Pardoner enters the story claiming all those who sin and are greedy. To go on and say “I preach against the very vice I make a living out of- avarice.” (170, 24). He sells fake pardons and relics to help “bring them to repent” (170,27). By selling these relics to save the sinful people, he is ironically doing it selfishly. “Let me …show more content…
Greed is represented throughout the tale. From the characters especially. Their actions mimic those who have turned their heart completely towards greed. A resounding example of that is when the youngest rioter was in town grabbing necessities, while the two other men were in town, he had a very malicious thought. “Lord, to think I might have all that treasure to myself alone!” (178,239) only to decide “he could kill his friends.” (178,246) He bought wine as well as a very strong poison. He snuck the poison into the wine before returning back to the gold. While the youngest was set in his decision, the other two men decided amongst themselves to kill the youngest to have more gold. “Get up in fun to have a wrestle; then…I’ll up and put my dagger through his back” (177,225). When the youngest rioter returned, the other two followed through their plan and killed the him. The two men were merry and wanted to celebrate so they unknowingly drank the poisoned wine. All three of the men died because their greed. In conclusion, the Pardoner’s greed was ironically displayed though his characters, tale as well as his own actions. He selfishly sold fake relics and pardons to the so called sinful people. His fear with the pilgrims was his livelihood. If you had stumbled upon the heaps of gold like the rioters, how much would you have
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