Corruption In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

At first, an indulgence was understood as a certificate given to a person by the Pope whose sins had been forgiven. While never being stated by the church themselves, many members of the clergy believed that Grace was simply achieved by purchasing an indulgence with money (Walter). Martin Luther said in regards to the selling of indulgences that, “If you can get someone out of purgatory for money, why would you not do so out of love?” (Baker). In simpler terms, during this time, money was the key to making it to heaven after death and for eternal forgiveness. Chaucer did an exceptional job with portraying all of the corruption and vices in the secular and non secular societies in The Canterbury Tales.
During this time, everything was not as it seemed. Historian Keith Baker claimed that there was a large amount of tension between the church and the state. “If you worked for the church, you believed the state was corrupt, and if you worked for the state, you thought the church was corrupt,” …show more content…
These stories outline different parts of society and what was wrong with each part of society (Chaucer). The Friar’s tale actually tells of the corrupt nature of the summoner, who also worked for the church. A common theme and root in these tales regarding the church officials is that they blame their corruptive ways on the position they hold in the church (Bryant). These officials will excuse their extortionate behavior on their own financial struggles as well (Bryant). Evidence of this behavior by the summoner is present in The Friar’s tale: “This summoner, ever lurking for his prey, Rode out to summon a widow, an old rip, Feigning a cause, for her he planned to strip,” (Chaucer). During this tale, it is evident that the summoner picks out people and extortions money from them which then goes directly to his pocket, rather than to the