The Canterbury Tales, written in the late 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection of tales as told by a variety of stereotypes from differing social classes. The longing poem provides insight to the lifestyles of the Medieval Age; the relation of the church to the people; the position of women in society; what was seen as humorous; and other norms of the time. It is a collection of some 24 tales (Chaucer had meant there to be more, unfortunately, or fortunately if you were made to read them all, he had died before he could complete his work), each tale told by a different pilgrim of different occupations. It is a human comedy poking at, and farcing, the three dominant estates of the time: feudal, ecclesiastical, and urban. My focus is on the Summoner and his tale.
             A "servant" of the church, the Summoner would be grouped under the ecclesiastical middle class. He was not poor, but his power was only so great, and his authority was minimal. As a summoner his job was to summon sinners to trial before a court of the church. Or so was the description. In reality the Summoner had used his position for his own profits, and he would gladly accept a bribe "for in [the sinner's] purse the punishment should be." Equally, because of his position, he was capable of blackmailing, especially the young members of the church for he knew all their secrets, and could thus make them do anything he wished.
             As for his morals... well what morals? The Summoner couldn't have possibly been any worse for his job. It is ironical how such a foul man could have been entrusted in the task of bringing sinners to justice. In spite of his position in the church the Summoner's actions were motivated by greed, and/or lust. He neither showed any problems with, nor contemplated committing acts of sin, although he held a supposedly honorary position in the church. So vulgar was he that he would even let a man sleep with his mi...