Essential 6

What parallels can be drawn between the Pardoner's Prologue and his tale? How is this tale different from the other two that we have studied? Think in regards to the Pardoner's voice and how Chaucer's style changes.

In the prologue, the Pardoner tells of his fraudulence in all that he does. Essentially, the pardoner is called to be a Man of God, a preacher, one who guides others. However, this is not the case. Through his preaching, the Pardoner does not try to free his followers of sin, but finds means to take revenge on those who have hurt him. He preaches for pecuniary gain, rather than spiritual gain. The Pardoner bluntly states, “I make my living out of avarice”, but then preaches against these offenses (245). Similarly, the tale tells the story of three young men that suffered consequences because they immersed themselves in sinful acts such as indulgence, avarice, and debauchery. The pardoner is certainly guilty of these same sins. The tale differs from the previous tales we have read because it is told in a type of satirical manner where the Pardoner ironically attempts to convey a meaning of purity when he is obviously not. Also, in every other tale, the taletellers were personified through their stories. The Pardoner’s tale, on the other hand, sheds light on the importance of avoiding sinful acts; as he makes his living based on sinful acts.