Negative Effects Of The Pardoner's Tale

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s collections of stories, The Canterbury Tales, a group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett tell each other stories containing different moral connotations. One such fable, The Pardoner’s Tale, is narrated by a licensed pardoner, who explains the evils of one of his main faults: greed; a vice that has indeed made him wealthy, but has done so at the expense of others. The story, although directed towards greed, is also important as a warning against any characteristic which seems to benefit us, but in reality is a vice which can have harmful effects on us and the people in our lives.
Similar to the pardoner, I am able to identify a great failing which I have, although it is not the same weakness. The …show more content…
The pardoner, whose silver tongue and faked relics earn him an annual income averaging “a hundred marks” (Chaucer 45) since he started in the profession. Similarly, almost constant relaxation has most certainly allowed me to reduce stress and keep myself entertained; however, there are many negative effects which exceed any ‘advantages’, and these negative effects are most visible in my studies. Because of my procrastination, I am often forced to work late hours to complete assignments I have not completed earlier, and I am tired during the day due to a lack of proper sleep, which in turn may cause me to become sick and miss school for an extended period of time. I am then unable to properly learn the material for each class, and as a final result I fall further and further behind, causing my grade to become less than what I am capable of. But truly, I am not the only one affected by my slothfulness; people who rely on me would be very disappointed if I should fail in my responsibilities. My parents, who pay for my tuition at Stevens Institute of Technology, work very hard to earn the money to send me to school, expect me to not only keep up with my studies, but also to help with chores in and around to house, in an attempt to balance the workload. When I get a job, …show more content…
No, no, that’s never been my policy!
For I will preach and beg in sundry lands;
I will not work and labor with my hands,
Nor baskets weave and try to live thereby,
Because I will not beg in vain, say I. (46)
Unlike the pardoner, I wish to make an earnest endeavor to reform my attitude towards my responsibilities, avoid wasting time on trivial pursuits. Abstinence will allow me to complete my work both quickly and efficiently, which will make me a better student, a better future employee, and a better