Religion In The Canterbury Tales

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Throughout the story, “The Canterbury Tales”, by Geoffrey Chaucer, the author satirizes the church and characterizes the individuality of the less privileged in order to bring awareness to the idea of a unique identity and ridicule church members for their unacceptable behavior. Chaucer mocks a number of church officials throughout his piece, casting shame on their lack of compliance with church rules and their failure to adhere to a modest lifestyle. During the late Middle Ages when this piece was published, a number of reforms to the sales of indulgences was occurring, and a shift in the state of mind of some congregations was beginning, but the church system was not widely accused for corruption until the 16th century. Many characters, such as The Monk, who …show more content…
The Monk was a man of opulent lifestyle, which entirely contradicted the concept of monkhood, which prescribed for him to live a conservative, traditional lifestyle that did not shy away from self-humility. Chaucer points out that in addition to not following the church’s culture (as it existed in the late Middle Ages), The Monk failed to serve his duty as a religious figure. His character is intended to embrace the stereotypical behavior of many monks who lived during the time period, as those who acted in a less than desirable manner were threats to the stability of the religious order. Also, Chaucer sarcastically jabs at The Friar by calling him a “noble pillar to his Order” (l. 218) when the Friar was actually a limaceous individual who openly took advantage of those who held respect for him. This shaming of friars continues as the Wife of Bath includes a friar in her prologue, antagonizing him for his ill-conduct. Finally, Chaucer scrutinizes The Pardoner by stating that he “made monkeys of the priest and congregation” (l. 726) through his scams and artificial adherence to his job as a man who bought sins from the burdened. Chaucer
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