Canterbury Tales Essay: The Significance Of The Pardoner's Tale

The Significance of the Pardoner’s tale The sole purpose of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury tale of the pardoner’s is to voice out to readers about the famous quote “ the root of all evil which is greed”. Throughout this prologue the pardoner's talks about the means one can raise money. He also depict that the only thing he cares about is money and aside from being greedy, he is also an hypocrite who preach nothing but to gain wealth through his religious works. He says “I preach nothing except for gain”(line 105) In addition, he also preach to his followers against blasphemy and alcohol. He explained of three friends who went on a journey to find death and kill him because this so called” death” has taken the lives of many people in the community. On their way, they met an old man and asked him where they could find death, but the old man replied that he too has been waiting for death but death has not visited him. However, the old man led them to a nearby tree and told them they could find death there. Hidden under that tree, was a great deal of treasures (money). At this point, the three friends decide on how they can take this money back to town that won’t make people think of them as thieves. Nevertheless, they made a …show more content…
By profession, the pardoner is a preacher whose task is to save people and guide them through the right path, instead he receive gifts from his congregation and persuade them to repent and be saved. However, he should be holy and be willing to do everything to save his people from eternal punishment in hell. The same greed he preach about is the same greed he is involved with.. He makes his living from corrupt preaching. Consequently, the pardoner's tale is an honest sermon to deter people from greed and the things of the world even though he doesn't care if the people go to hell as long as he makes his living out of