“And many a grisly oath they shouted out/ and tore Christ's blessed body limb from limb--” (Chaucer). Chaucer uses this line in the epic poem “The Pardoner’s Tale” while discussing the motive of Death. Chaucer chooses to personify death in this tale by giving him positive and negative motives and actions. These motives, both good and bad, appear in the epic and resonate with each person in a different way. The timeless traditions that trail Death are the ones that follow the human race through their very own cycle of birth, life, and death. Even though it is commonly known that death is a thief, he is lesser known as a friend and protector og the cycle of life. The justification of Death’s actions change and will vary, depending on the literary
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In Chaucer's epic poem “The Pardoner’s Tale” death is a friend at some points in the epic. In the lines “I think that it is necessary” (Line 11) it reveals an idea that death is necessary to keep peace and prosperity as well as to end the suffering of a person or persons. Another line in the epic poem says, “While he sat drunk” (Line 4) implies the deceased may have been an avid drinker causing problems or maybe even causing harm to others due to his intoxicated state. Death may be necessary to ensure the safety of all other people around this particular drunk. Chaucer shows in the line, “My friends, are we not three peas in a pod?/ Let’s each hold up a hand to one another” (Lines 26-27) death can also bring out the good in people. The three friends in the tale band together because of the action Death had committed earlier, this brings the friends closer than they have been in the story, uniting under one common goal, though it is murder. Chaucer characterizes the characters in the tale by using the phrases, “by God’s arms!” (line 22), “the worthy bones of God,” (Line 25), “by God’s sweet dignity,” (Line 31), and “tore Christ’s blessed body limb from limb--” (Line 39) as devoutly Christian and followers of the bible. Exodus 21:24 says, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”. In this case that would mean their dead friend did something so horrible, possibly murder, that it would warrant his own demise. The death of this possible murderer may have saved countless lives which may be lost if it weren’t for the protective acts of death himself. Despite the death of one man, the cycle of birth, life, and death may be saved for another person. Death does not deserve the reputation as a timeless ruthless killer when in actuality he does the work necessary to keep people
In Chaucer's epic poem “The Pardoner’s Tale” death is a friend at some points in the epic. In the lines “I think that it is necessary” (Line 11) it reveals an idea that death is necessary to keep peace and prosperity as well as to end the suffering of a person or persons. Another line in the epic poem says, “While he sat drunk” (Line 4) implies the deceased may have been an avid drinker causing problems or maybe even causing harm to others due to his intoxicated state. Death may be necessary to ensure the safety of all other people around this particular drunk. Chaucer shows in the line, “My friends, are we not three peas in a pod?/ Let’s each hold up a hand to one another” (Lines 26-27) death can also bring out the good in people. The three friends in the tale band together because of the action Death had committed earlier, this brings the friends closer than they have been in the story, uniting under one common goal, though it is murder. Chaucer characterizes the characters in the tale by using the phrases, “by God’s arms!” (line 22), “the worthy bones of God,” (Line 25), “by God’s sweet dignity,” (Line 31), and “tore Christ’s blessed body limb from limb--” (Line 39) as devoutly Christian and followers of the bible. Exodus 21:24 says, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”. In this case that would mean their dead friend did something so horrible, possibly murder, that it would warrant his own demise. The death of this possible murderer may have saved countless lives which may be lost if it weren’t for the protective acts of death himself. Despite the death of one man, the cycle of birth, life, and death may be saved for another person. Death does not deserve the reputation as a timeless ruthless killer when in actuality he does the work necessary to keep people