Language And Manipulation In The Pardoner's Tale

Language gives people the power to manipulate and deceit. Language can be used to mean what other’s want. The Pardoner exclaims, “My holy pardon frees you of all this, / Provided that you make the right approaches, That is with sterling rings and brooches” (Chaucer 330 - 333). The Pardoner uses the story to his own advantage rather than entertainment. He uses the tale to manipulate the audience into giving him gifts so they do not have sin of avarice. Manipulation is to control something or someone. The Pardoner effectively manipulates the people by telling them that they must give him gifts in order to be pardon of their sins. He is controlling their fear of God by convincing them that their free of their sins. In reality they are not free …show more content…
Chaucer uses language to expose the truth of what is really happening in society. If people knew the truth of what the Pardoner is doing it would cause a revolution. The Pardoner says, “But let me briefly make my purpose plain; I preach for nothing but greed of gain and use the same old text, as bold as brass, Radix malorum est cupiditas. And thus I preach against the very vice I make my living out of ― avarice” (Chaucer 41 - 46 ). The Pardoner admits that he’s not pardoning them of their sins out of the kindness of his heart but purely for gain. Society believes that he’s doing them a favor when in reality it’s the other way around and their fate isn’t even insured. Chaucer exposing what was really happening gives society the chance for them to try and reform the church. This can only happen when society revolt against the church and what they stand for. It might not happen right away but language is an important step to getting there. The Pardoner uses his strong influence to manipulate society. When society realizes this for themselves this will cause them to revolt, wanting a reform. This will rid the Pardoner of the control he possesses because his influence no longer would