The Use of Satire Through the Pardoner’s Character in Canterbury Tales, a Book by Geoffrey Chaucer

Satire is defined as, "the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc" (Dictionary.com). In Canterbury Tales author Geoffrey Chaucer uses satire to depict the church as a corrupt and unscrupulous environment. During the Middle Ages, the life of individuals revolved around the church in fear of execution and not making it to heaven. Chaucer uses the pardoner character to not only criticize the pardoner position but as a representation of the church, its greed and use of deception to exploit the gullible nature of its citizens. In The Pardoner`s Description in General Prologue, Chaucer vividly describes the lack of masculinity the pardoner has. Chaucer states, "His chin no beard had harbored, nor would harbor;/ Smoother than ever chin was left by barber./I judge he was a gelding, or a mare" (Chaucer 709-711). Chaucer describes the smoothness of the pardoner`s appearance compared to those of the time by comparing him to a female horse as well as a castrated male horse. The pardoner himself goes on to explain that greed is the root of all evil. However, he admits, "Relics they are, at least for such are known./ Then, cased in metal, I`ve a shoulder bone," (Chaucer 23-24). The pardoner, along with admitting to never have doing an honest day`s work, admits that his own relics are deceptions himself. The pardoner tells a tale with the moral being, "Radix malorum est cupiditas," (Chaucer 8). This is latin for "Avarice (greed) is the root of all evil". This is ironic because Chaucer portrays the pardoner is greedy himself. At the conclusion of his tale, the pardoner proceeds to attempt to receive money from the pilgrims although he previously confessed his use of deception and fake relics in order to receive compensation. This, upsets the host as he states, "You`ll have me kissing your old breeches too/ And swear they were the relic of a saint..." (Chaucer 292-293). By using satire, Chaucer is able to express his opinion on the deception methods used by the pardoner and the Church`s greed for money (in the form of pardons). Since the Church is of major influence during the time, fear and the letter from the Pope, the pardoner is not challenged and is able to continue his act of greed and fulfilling false hope into the citizens about heaven, being sin free and the afterlife.