The Pardoner`s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer and Federigo`s Falcon by Giovanni Boccaccio are similar in some ways, but are also very different. Federigo`s Falcon is about love and The Pardoner`s Tale is about greed, however, these themes both determine the actions of the characters in the story. In addition to this, Chaucer and Boccaccio both utilized irony to emphasize and clarify the themes of love and greed. Monna Giovanna and the three rioters are determined to do whatever it takes to get what they want because of their motives. After hearing her son's request for the Falcon, Monna Giovanna promised to him that she “shall go and fetch it for [him] first thing tomorrow morning” (Boccaccio 162). Monna Giovanna was aware that the Falcon was the only thing that Federigo had that brought him joy, but she…show more content… Before searching for Death, the three rioters “ made their bargain, swore with appetite, to live and die for one another as brother-bron might swear to his born brother” (Chaucer 122/124). The promises that they made to each other before the they discovered the gold is ironic because instead they ended up killing each other because of their greed. Similarly, in Federigo`s Falcon after Monna Giovanna asked to have the falcon for her son Federigo “realized that he could not oblige her because he had given her the falcon to eat” and he “burst into tears in her presence before being able to utter a single word in reply” (Boccaccio 164). It is ironic that both of them made sacrifices out of love however Monna Giovanna`s was the opposite of Federigo`s. This is because while Monna Giovanna came to ask for the falcon to help her dying son, Federigo decided to cook his most prized possession because his loves Monna Giovanna. Altogether, the irony used in both stories illustrated the themes of love and greed clearly through the thoughts and actions of the
