Hypocrisy In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

The late 1300s were a period in the Medieval Ages where little physical advancement was achieved by European countries such as and not limited to, Britain. Nevertheless, this generation of people birthed many theological thought processes and debates. The vast majority of these religious topics consisted of a careful consideration of whether the church was necessary for a Christian pursuit of spiritual completeness and purity, which primarily resulted from the steady gaze of the common man upon the corrupt and avaricious clergy. The Canterbury Tales may be Chaucer’s most renowned work due to his efforts to display the idiosyncrasies and hypocrisies of each person he encountered on his way to Canterbury for his pilgrimage, as well as his attempts …show more content…
Moreover, the satire directed towards religious figures and religion in the Canterbury Tales is very similar in fashion to the method satire is used in modern times towards politicians and corporations. There is also satirical intent aimed towards the organizations that empower these individuals to act blatantly and nonchalantly while professing their so called righteous deeds and completion of their duties, such as the church’s assignment of infallibility and an ordinary politician’s maneuverability around the law. In modern times the usage of the media has replaced the use of literary devices as the primary source of satirical pieces. This is evident in the coverage of modern day elections or racial tensions. Chaucer as well as many people were enraged due to being betrayed by an organization which they invested in, therefore resulting in an unrelenting portrayal of religious figures in the Canterbury Tales. They felt abused, and it was true, so the people protested in one of the only ways they knew how …show more content…
The Catholic Church during the Medieval ages was in many ways a large institution with authority and influence throughout Europe due to size. It was easily stronger than many national governments and maintained a global force. Politics, similarly to religion, play an integral role in the lives of others because it is central to the ways in which they live. Politics and religion are fundamental in the development of laws, rules and the establishment of values and morals thus being a critical determinant of how people live. Since these aspects of life are so integral and essential, there has been many thoughts as to how they should function and also a strict regard for them leading to the use of satire. These satires also have similar objectives of improving the quality of professionals as well as the common man, while bluntly exposing the faults and mishaps of people considered to have portraying or defining power. Chaucer has succeeded in his wish to reduce moral corruption as seen in the fact that there are limited reports of religious exploitation in comparison to his lifetime and in modern times. The absence of moral corruption also a reason why political debate and discussion has surpassed theological debates in