Canterbury tales - the church
Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, not only creates many varying themes throughout each tales he writes, but also through each contrasting pilgrim on the trip. Through the Parson and the Pardoner especially, Chaucer reveals the changes that the church has gone through. He shows this through each character's personality and the tale each tells. Chaucer also brings forth the general theme of the clerics of the time. Chaucer includes each character as if to condemn the path that the church has taken. The Parson represents the old church. He truly cares for the parishioners, never cheats them, and steers clear of hypocrisy. He first tries his best to live the perfect life, and then teaches how it
Although both men are in the church, each are there for different reasons. The Parson gives a sermon about the seven deadly sins. The Pardoner has his own ambitions of wealth while the Parson has the holy purpose of seeking after God. As the Pardoner models its growing hypocrisy, the Parson shows its past purity and brings forth Chaucer's hope for the future of the church. Each part of his sermon comments, in some way, about the other travelers. Yet he does not speak harshly, rather knowledgeably. Although both the parson and the Pardoner hold positions in the church, the two vary directly. In contrast, the Pardoner represents what the church has become. Chaucer included the contrasting the pure Parson and the evil Pardoner mainly to reveal the difference between the old church and what the church has become. His tale is not told for the benefit of the other pilgrims, but for his selfish goal, revenge. The Pardoner is hypocritical, and even admits so in his prologue. He frightens people with his preaching so they will pay him for his pardons, yet he does not carry out that which he teaches. The old church was for teaching and rebuking, not turning a profit from the parishioners. This symbolizes the church in the way that it seemed to no longer be there for the benefit of the people but for the benefit of the clerics.
Common topics in this essay:
Parson Pardoner,
Canterbury Tales,
Geoffrey Chaucer,
represents church,
tale told,
god church,
parson pardoner,
brings forth,
theme clerics,
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