Greed In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

Words: 286
Pages: 2

The strongest hook is one that even the writer can accrue some wealth due to his writing. Just as the pardoner and his well-known trait avarice, he has made a fortune selling relics that even the most insightful claims of its legitimacy can be backed down as a fallacy. Despite his illegitimate ways, he details a story that explains why greed can be harmful in many ways. “Radix malorum est cupiditas” (line 8) or the love of money is the root of all evil is told by the pardoner. This quote is his trademark line before opening up his tale with an unwarranted ending of three men seeking glory and killing each other trying to take all of the acquired wealth. The pardoner explain why sometimes money can create ill-wanted outcomes and you should watch your back if you are wealthy enough. Despite his words, his actions take another meaning. …show more content…
His business tactic (in most people’s eyes) is incorrect and he should be punished for it, but he still goes around selling his fake relics for the love of money. His actions are very ironic to his words where he goes about that wealth can have negative impacts, but he himself loves money. Not only is this tale ironic he is a hypocrite to his words and his actions. Chaucer created a character with special attribute a majority of the people generally tend to dislike, and that was clearly stated. The pardoner is a dishonorable man, and you will find these people anywhere you go. This irony Chaucer presents is supposed to represent the corruptness in the society he lives