What happens when a person is not satisfied with what they have? What is a person willing to do in order to receive wealth and fortune? Is it worth dropping all morals and ethics? This virus that affects and harms many is otherwise known as greed. Greed is defined as an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. Examples of this can even be found in today's society. One example is a person taking all the cookies in his house for himself, even though he knew other people wanted some. He took cookies to benefit himself at the expense of others. This virus takes hold of a person’s mind and shields them from making the decisions they know are right. Due to this, greed has worked its way into the seven deadly sins.
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Along the way we find out who each person on the pilgrimage is from Chaucer’s eyes. The Canterbury Tales is a unique example of greed because it can be traced through many characters. Not one individual character represents greed. Instead, multiple people exhibit this sin through their descriptions and their actions. For example, Chaucer reveals avarice in the Miller’s description when he says, “He knew well how to steal corn and charge threefold; and yet he had a thumb of gold, all right”(Chaucer 45:564-565). The Miller was willing to take advantage of others to benefit himself, the basis of greed. Not only did laborer like the Miller commit these sins, religious leaders were also guilty. This includes the wealthy Friar who took bribes, and bribed others, to teach false lessons of the bible to the illiterate society. The General Prologue it states, “He knew the taverns well in every town, and every innkeeper and barmaid better than a leper or a beggarwoman”(Chaucer 27:240-242). This shows that not only did he take bribes, he also did not perform the duties that a respectable churchman is responsible
Along the way we find out who each person on the pilgrimage is from Chaucer’s eyes. The Canterbury Tales is a unique example of greed because it can be traced through many characters. Not one individual character represents greed. Instead, multiple people exhibit this sin through their descriptions and their actions. For example, Chaucer reveals avarice in the Miller’s description when he says, “He knew well how to steal corn and charge threefold; and yet he had a thumb of gold, all right”(Chaucer 45:564-565). The Miller was willing to take advantage of others to benefit himself, the basis of greed. Not only did laborer like the Miller commit these sins, religious leaders were also guilty. This includes the wealthy Friar who took bribes, and bribed others, to teach false lessons of the bible to the illiterate society. The General Prologue it states, “He knew the taverns well in every town, and every innkeeper and barmaid better than a leper or a beggarwoman”(Chaucer 27:240-242). This shows that not only did he take bribes, he also did not perform the duties that a respectable churchman is responsible