The Pardoner's Tale Greed

Words: 637

Pages: 3

Open Document

It is said that money is what makes the world go round, yet it is also said that money is the root of all evil. Both of these statements are widely accepted, yet they seem to contradict one another. Although, if both of these statements are in fact true, it must mean that evil is the omnipresent power which allows the world to function. This frightening assumption is further explored in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. More specifically, the dangers and atrocities which money and greed are responsible for are deeply examined throughout The Pardoner’s Tale. In this tale, there rioters embark on a journey in hopes of killing death itself; however, they are quickly distracted by the opportunity to obtain a substantial amount of gold. In the end, they plot to kill one another so they won't have to share any of the riches, but they each succumb to a murder plot directed to themselves. Through examination of this poem, it can be understood that greed has the strength to change people's desires, make them do despicable things and is therefore responsible for all evil within mankind. To begin, the power of greed can be seen …show more content…
It can be determined that greed is powerful enough to act as an authoritative figure for much of humanity. While most people are not willing to commit murder, a large majority of people would compromise smaller moral beliefs in order to gain a personal advantage in some way. People do not see the dangers of these decisions because they are blinded by their greed; so they are willing to commit the act. Every crime or immoral action is carried out due to a personal motive -- everyone is driven to carry out evil due to their greedy aspirations. Therefore, it can be concluded that all crimes, sins, and unjust actions in this world are derived from

Greed In The Pardoner's Tale

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…

Words 457 - Pages 2

Theme Of Greed In The Pardoner's Tale

The three men in “The Pardoner’s Tale” in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales find some gold coins at an oak tree while looking for death. Those gold coins will play a big part in the rest of the tale. The little gold coins play the role of “Death.” The seven deadly sins lead to death. “Death” in this tale is represented by: greed and gluttony. First, “Death” is represented by greed. The rioters go looking for death, but run upon the gold coins. One of the rioters say, “It’s clear that Fortune…

Words 337 - Pages 2

The Effects Of Greed In The Pardoner's Tale

In the narrative The Pardoner’s Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer focuses on the effects of greed. More specifically, he tells a tale about three men who venture to kill death but end up dead themselves. Chauncer writes, “If it be your design to find out Death” … “I left him there today under a tree, and there you’ll find him waiting.” (182-185) These were the words of an old man that informed the three men who had strayed from the rest of the group at the tavern. Instead of death, it was coins they found!…

Words 199 - Pages 1

Greed: An Analysis Of The Pardoner's Tale

An analysis of The Pardoners Tale shows that the moral of the story is greed is the root of all evil! In the story, three young men set out to find and kill death but find bushels of gold, because of greed, death found them. Instead of equally sharing the eight bushels of gold, they would kill each other for it all. It started out as revenge for their friend, but money became a driving factor for them. The Pardoner is guilty of the same things he preaches against. These are the points that prove…

Words 649 - Pages 3

How Is Irony Used In The Pardoner's Tale

The Canterbury Tales Irony Essay In the book of The Canterbury Tales by, Chaucer, there is a pristine pattern of irony throughout each character and each story in the book. The Canterbury Tales, is a collaboration of stories of character and tales told throughout a pilgrimage. Each story has its own moral and meaning to its theme, but many of the tales are ironic in their morals. Where irony is most present in The Canterbury Tales is seen through the stories of, “The Pardoner's Tale”, “The Wife of…

Words 865 - Pages 4

Irony In The Pardoner's Tale

The Pardoner’s Tale, in and of itself, is ironic. The topics that are presented as morals within the story and the Narrator are both paradoxical in nature. In this story, there are characters who are protagonists, reflecting society as a whole and human nature. Throughout The Pardoner’s Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer examines and critiques the sins of society and the effects of giving in to those sins. As the tale begins, the three youths are seen in a bar. The drinking is representative of the beginning…

Words 557 - Pages 3

The Theme Of Greed In The Canterbury Tales

them far wealthier than they originally represented the Pardoner’s theme of avarice. When the youngest rioter returns from his errand, he was ambushed and then the remaining two drank the poisoned drinks which allowed the Pardoner to once again remind the audience that indeed, greed is the root of all evil. Although the Pardoner’s tale has an obvious theme of greed, there also seem to be an aspect of religious corruption. The Pardoner’s tale has a feeling of perfection in it that was probably used…

Words 629 - Pages 3

Chaucer Pardoner Essay

“Church: Salvation To Stealing” Throughout the Middle Ages, attitudes toward the Catholic Church intensified socially and politically. One of the, Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer is, “The Pardoner’s Tale.” In the “The Pardoner’s Tale”, Chaucer uses the character of the Pardoner to reveal the corruption in the Catholic Church and to help change the attitudes of people in different classes. Chaucer wanted the people of the time to see that the upper classes were using the Catholic Church…

Words 628 - Pages 3

Potter Tales Revised 1 Essay

literature. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” Death is indirectly personified and the three rioters attempt to catch Death. However once they reach Death, greed conquers them resulting in a bleak death for the rioters and their oath. In contrast, “The Tale of Three Brothers,” employs Death directly and it obstructs the brothers. Subsequently, Death takes the first two brothers as they succumb to his trick. However, the third brother who is a humble man departs with Death as equals, which ends the tale in a hopeful…

Words 506 - Pages 3

Liberalism and Modern Society Essay

that is that not all humans are perfect. Although Chaucer’s tale and O’Connor’s short story are centuries apart they share the same warning in their theme which cautions us to beware of the evil doings and sins around us. The two stories connect also by the deficiency of how well things may seem but come out to be another. Like “To deceive mankind for his business,” (Reiss) is how the pardoner did his business. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the pardoner admits in his preaching that he preaches for…

Words 853 - Pages 4