Of all the tales in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”, it’s the Pardoner’s that captured my interest the most. Be it humorous and amusing but it was the lesson that got me fond of the tale. It focuses on the different sins – lechery, sloth, gluttony, false oaths, and specifically greed. I would say it’s a must read for people in the present time because the aforementioned sins have been becoming rampant, drastically spreading like a contagious disease no one can put to a halt.
The tale is about three drunkards who spent much of their time in revelry, engaging their selves in irresponsible and sinful deeds. They overheard a funeral and after some inquiries, found out it was their friend who was murdered by someone called Death. The three decided to kill the thief as retaliation and with no particular direction they traveled some distance in pursuit. The avengers met an old man while going astray. They asked for his help and were directed to an oak tree. The drunken men went to the said place but to no avail. Death was nowhere to be found but fate seemed to have something better planned for them. The trio found bags of gold beneath the tree which they distributed to each of them. They sent one of their numbers to obtain food and it was the youngest that got picked. The two who were left plotted on slaying their friend to acquire his share of gold. What they were oblivious of is that, their idea has already entered the mind of their younger pal. He bought poison from an apothecary and mixed it with the wine he got to have the rest of the wealth they just found. When he returned, the duo’s plan befell and they got him slain. They celebrated what they thought was a victory but their ecstasy did not last long. They were poisoned after drinking the intoxicating liquid their friend had brought. The bushels of gold were left sitting under the oak tree unclaimed.
The purpose of the tale, which is to make people realize that love for wealth is the root of all evil and that greed kills, has definitely no correlation with the Pardoner’s demeanor and little fraud. The words he spat out of his mouth were ironic to his true self. He was a professional hypocrite pretending to be holy and have the power to absolve anyone from his sins. He preaches with eloquence and manages to convince people on paying him just so they can experience an eternal bliss in heaven. He does these deceitful acts to acquire wealth disregarding others’ social status, poor or rich, for the sake of satisfying his sinful desire. The Pardoner, who is avaricious himself, was somehow clever to be able to do these things.
The old man’s identity in this tale was rather suspicious. He said that he had been cursed to wander the earth until he finds a youth who can change places with him. In my opinion, this stranger can be Death in disguise since he was the one who led the avengers to the oak tree. He might have been aware that greediness was a human nature so he used the gold there to make the three betray and murder each other.
I thought the tale was indeed comedic. Because of the drunkards’ stupidity and great desire for affluence, they unconsciously succeeded in their plan. The three of them met what they sought for, not the thief called Death but death itself. If I were in their shoes, I’d feel rueful. They almost had in their grasps what many had been yearning for but because of their foolishness, it had gone with the wind. They died pathetically and none of them had the chance to experience an abundant life.
One lesson the tale has imparted me was that avarice does kill. If we let our desire for wealth get a hold of our spiritual and mental well-being, we might end up like those three dunce men; not exactly die but it will surely afflict us in one way or another. Just think of what happened to the Pardoner after accusing the Host as the most sinful among the throng of pilgrims and asking him to initiate the paying of sin offerings. He put himself to shame. The latter was witty enough to retort and defend himself from the Pardoner’s silly blame.
All of us should be contented with what we possess. I don’t mean for the less fortunate to remain on their inferior status; they could strive for a better life but, they should not desire for too much. People must get it through their heads that true happiness doesn’t rely on one’s wealth but on how he enjoy his life, receiving the love from people around him and the guidance of our Lord.
We must also stop fooling ourselves and accept the fact that only God has the power to free us from the bondage of our sins. We must repent and ask forgiveness to no one but Him. An individual, idols, images, objects, or other worldly things can never save us from hell. Mankind must not be skeptical and embrace these reality.
Geoffrey Chaucer deserves everyone’s praise and respect for writing these kinds of tales with great and evident splendor.
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