Prologue Essays - The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoners Tale, Ethics

Prologue Essays - The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoners Tale, Ethics Prologue The Pardoner explains to the audience his usual methods of preaching, as well as his regular themes. He takes pains to have an important sounding speech and a satisfactory performance, thus earning him admiration. In addition, he explains how he sells fake relics and makes a huge profit from doing so. His theme is always "The love of money is the root of all evil," and he preaches heavily against greed and gluttony. At the same time, he repeatedly willingly admits to going against his own preaching. Pardoner's Story Three immoral men are drinking in an inn when they are informed Death has taken one of their friends. They promptly, and drunkenly, swear oaths to avenge their former companion and slay Death. They head off, and not quite half a mile from where they started, they encounter a poor old man. The old man greets them, and is treated rudely. The three men, believing the old man is an accomplice of Death, demand of him death's location. The old man responds that if they are so eager to find Death they should look in a grove, under an oak tree. The men go, and upon arriving promptly forget about Death, as they find almost eight bushels of gold coins. They plan to remove the gold at night, and send the youngest to town to fetch bread and wine. After he leaves, the two remaining men hatch a plot to kill him when he returns, as they will then have a larger portion of the treasure. While in town the youngest decides to kill the other two, and buys poison for two of the three purchased wine bottles. He returns and is killed by the other two, after which they promptly die by drinking the poisoned wine. Epilogue The Pardoner attempts to sell his relics' and pardons, but when asked to come forth and unbuckle his purse, the Host calls his fraud and refuses. The Host claims the Pardoner is not a real man, and the Pardoner gets very angry. The tale ends with the Knight stepping forth and making peace between them. Themes - The love of money is the root of all evil - Elders should be respected - Oaths should not be taken in vain - Drink (alcohol) leads to bad judgment and death - Friends should be chosen carefully, and are close enough to stab you in the back