"Canterbury Tales": The Pardoner's Tale

Recently, we began the Pardoner's Tale. Just like the Wife of Bath tells a story of her own that reflects her values and beliefs, so too does the Pardoner.

And the Wife and Pardoner are very vastly different people, although they share the trait of self-importance.



When we first met the Pardoner in the Prologue, he is described as having a goat-like voice and waxy yellow hair that falls like rat tails. Already, we are seeing the Pardoner portrayed in an unflattering way. He is being equated to a rat. What do we think of when we think of rats?

Usually:

• Disease
• Dishonesty
• Disgust
• Trash
• Dirty
• Snitch

The Pardoner is a little of all of these things. In his prologue, he talks about how he's basically in his job for the money, but still tries to pass it off as something that isn't really immoral. He even says that just because he himself is greedy doesn't mean he cannot help others avoid the sin of greed. But, this does bring up the paradox of the Pardoner's character: the Pardoner preaches that money is the root of all evil, but he earns money by selling indulgences to forgive sins. So, he uses what causes evil to supposedly cleanse people of evil. 



The pardoner's tale begins with three rioters. Rioters are like rogues, looters, troublemakers. They usually spend their days drinking and causing trouble. These three men learn that their best friend has just been murdered by a thief they call...DEATH.



Yes, Death is being used as a metaphor here. Death is portrayed as thief who kills many, many people, even an entire village. This is a reference to the plague, which seemed to steal away people's lives even at the pinnacle of their youth. So, the Pardoner portrays death almost like a person, sort of how we do with the Grim Reaper.



The three rioters make a pact that they will hunt down Death and KILL HIM! At the beginning of their journey, they run into an old man and talk rudely to him. The old man scolds them and so they accuse the old man of being a spy for Death. The old man denies it and tells the rioters that Death is actually waiting under a nearby oak tree.

And you should read the rest of the tale HERE.

Some things to remember (NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR READING, BUT IT MIGHT HELP):

• When the old man talks about missing his mother, it's another metaphor for the Earth. He knocks at her gate because he knocks the ground with his cane when he walks. He wants her to open his arms to her = he wants to die and be buried in the ground.
• The rioters DO eventually find Death. Do they win?
• The basic moral of the story can best be summarized by the old man's words "Do no more harm to an old man than you, being now young would have another do when you are old." Basically, do unto others what you would have them do unto you.
• The Pardoner admits that the life he lives may not be one that is very pious (good and religious) and that he himself is a sinner of sorts. However, he still feels himself very self-important because he believes his way of getting money is clever. 
• In other words, the Pardoner admits to the pilgrims that he is greedy and a scam artist, but almost takes a pride in it. But, he still tries to scam the other pilgrims at the end.