Hypocrisy And Corruption In The Canterbury Tales

Nuns with dogs. Sycophant Friars. Wives with five husbands. The list continues with greedy, animalistic Pardoners and pimpled Summoners. Such money-driven individuals travelon a pilgrimage to Canterbury, a holy journey to celebrate the martyr Becket. Their titles and positions - often holy and elite - contradicts their actions and desires - selfish and corrupt. With such dynamic characters embodying the problems of the feudal system, Chaucer criticizes and reveals the flaws of the system. By illuminating the actions and practices of the Nun, the Friar, and the Wife of Bath, Chaucer demonstrates problems regarding with the Church, the poor, and women. The Catholic Church played an important role in Chaucer’s time, mingling with the state and …show more content…
Amor vincit omnia.” Although her position and title suggest that she lives a life according to God, she wears an embellished brooch with “Love Conquers All.” Along with the scandalous message, the necklace is made of gold when nuns were only suppose to wear a simple, wooden cross. This one small jewelry symbolizes the hypocrisy and corruption of the members of the Church. If the Prioress, the head nun, disregards rules, how will the rest of the nuns act? Male church members also show the flaws of the Church, but the Friar also propose the neglect of the poor. Instead of servicing the poor, “he knew the taverns..And every good host and each barmaid too-Better than begging lepers, these he knew.” For the sake of money, the Friar surrounds the rich, because they can pay more for his services than the poor. Instead of helping those who need it the most, the Friar neglects the poor, allowing Chaucer to display the situations of the poor. Also providing a statement for the inferior social class, the Wife of Bath contradicts the restrictions of females in the system. Thrown into marriage at young ages, women are expected to birth children and raise families,