Analysis of Kittredge's Chaucer's Pardoner A realistic character is an important element of literary works. This "dramatic propriety" is a characteristic that many critics believe is absent in Chaucer's "The Pardoner's Tale" due to lack of believability. However, George Kittredge challenges this view in "Chaucer's Pardoner", stating that throughout the tale, the pardoner is indeed an extremely realistic and complex character. Kittredge's defense of "The Pardoner's Tale" begins with his acknowledgement of alternative explanations for the pardoner's unusual confession. Using logic, Kittredge disproves the theory that the pardoner is "a reproduction of the False-Semblant." Chaucer was "not a reformer" or "satirist" whose goal is to reform the church. He merely wished to use different characters to tell his stories. Kittredge also mentions how the pardoner is not drunk when telling his tale, as only one draught of ale was consumed, not nearly enough to intoxicate a seasoned drinker like the pardoner. Through his reasoning, Kittredge concludes that the pardoner's foolish confession, in fact, has a purpose for the story. While the pardoner may seem foolish to reveal his sins and hypocrisies, there is reasoning behind this madness. Kittredge points out that the pardoner is "too clever a knave to wish others to take him for a fool." The pardoner, rather than being an unrealistic fool, understands that the other members of the pilgrimage perceive him in a negative light. He does not wish to seem like an ignorant fool, handing out pardons for sins he also commits. Therefore, he decides to tell the truth, revealing his false trade, fake ... ... middle of paper ... ...ich to vent his wrath." However, as the pardoner remains silent, it is clear he is struggling between his "momentary return to sincerity" and his "revulsion of feeling." The pardoner, unsure of which emotion to accept, is unable to respond to the host's comments. This reflects a more realistic attitude: one of uncertainty and confusion. The pardoner is a dynamic character that seems very realistic. Kittredge's hypothesis that the pardoner was once a sincere friar, corrupted by his trade, seems very likely. Despite his corruption, the pardoner has "a moment of moral convulsion," revealing a complex personality that seems more realistic than an emotionless and completely corrupted shell. "The Pardoner's Tale", despite what critics may say, does not violate the "dramatic propriety" that is critical to literary work.
The pardoner telling a story about greed and saying that if you don’t repent you will get what’s coming to you. A great example of this is in line 289-290, “Thus these murders receive...
emphasis to the importance of his Cipolla by placing the master preacher in the last
Heroic Couplets are commonly used for epics and narrative poetry in English (Poets.org). Chaucer wrote many shorter poems and translated a medieval French poem. Chaucer prepared a translation of a Latin article on the use of the astrolabe. An astrolabe is used to predict and find the location of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Chaucer also could’ve been the translator of a work having to do with the use of an equatorium (Notablebiographies.com). Throughout a lot of Chaucer’s works he wrote in the English vernacular while other poetry was still being written in Anglo-Norman or Latin.
Positivity is a very important emotion that will help to live a healthy life. Instead of being sad and getting angry, people should just be enthusiastic because it can make life much easier. Someone with this outlook on life is the Host. He always is very nice and has a good attitude; because of this he tries to spread his cheer.
Through the Prologue to the Pardoner's tale, the character of the Pardoner is revealed. Although the Pardoner displays many important traits, the most prevalent is his greed. Throughout the prologue, the Pardoner displays his greed and even admits that the only thing he cares about is money: "I preach nothing except for gain" ("Pardoner's Tale", Line 105). This avarice is seen strongly in the Pardoner's tale as well. In the Pardoner's tale, three friends begin a journey in order to murder Death. On their journey, though, an old man leads them to a great deal of treasure. At this point, all three of the friends in the tale display a greed similar to the Pardoner's. The three friends decide that someone should bring bread and wine for a celebration. As the youngest of the friends leaves to go buy wine, the other two greedily plot to kill him so they can split the treasure only two ways. Even the youngest decides to "put it in his mind to buy poison / With which he might kill his two companions" (383, 384). The greed, which is evident in the character of the Pardoner, is also clearly seen in the tale.
In The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the reader can tell a lot about the characters and their relationships just through the dialogue alone. Sherlock Holmes is dominant, or the alpha, and plays the master role when it comes to working with his apprentice, John Watson. Watson plays the obedient apprentice who wants to make his master proud. The dialogue allows the readers to see what the author did not blatantly state. Through solely analyzing the dialogue, the readers are able to learn more and more in depth than the reader would by only initially reading the book.
In the passage from Act 1, Scene 2 through the use of language and dramatic effect Shakespeare explores and expands the character of Hamlet, also enforcing themes such as gender and desire.
William Shakespeare attained literary immortality through his exposition of the many qualities of human nature in his works. One such work, The Merchant of Venice, revolves around the very human trait of deception. Fakes and frauds have been persistent throughout history, even to this day. Evidence of deception is all around us, whether it is in the products we purchase or the sales clerks' false smile as one debates the purchase of the illusory merchandise. We are engulfed by phonies, pretenders, and cheaters. Although most often associated with a heart of malice, imposture varies in its motives as much as it's practitioners, demonstrated in The Merchant of Venice by the obdurate characters of Shylock and Portia.
The Man of the Law in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales came across as wise, but yet winning was his top propriety. Everyone around him thought of him as a wise man, but no one would really speak up if they thought otherwise. The Man of the Law also came off as trying to learn from others case, or maybe he just thought he could do better. He also must have had a great memory as well since “he knew of every judgment, case, and crime, every record since King William's time”.
The monk receives some scathing sarcasm in Chaucer’s judgment of his new world ways and the garments he wears “With fur of grey, the finest in the land; Also, to fasten hood beneath his chin, He had of good wrought gold a curious pin: A love-knot in the larger end there was.” (194-197, Chaucer). The Friar is described as being full of gossip and willing to accept money to absolve sins, quite the opposite of what a servant of God should be like. Chaucer further describes the friar as being a frequenter of bars and intimate in his knowledge of bar maids and nobles alike. The friar seems to be the character that Chaucer dislikes the most, he describes him as everything he should not be based on his profession. The Pardoner as well seems to draw special attention from Chaucer who describes him as a man selling falsities in the hopes of turning a profit “But with these relics, when he came upon Some simple parson, then this paragon In that one day more money stood to gain Than the poor dupe in two months could attain.” (703-706, Chaucer). Chaucer’s description of the pardoner paints the image of a somewhat “sleazy” individual “This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax, But lank it hung as does a strike of flax; In wisps hung down such locks as he 'd on head, And with them he his shoulders overspread; But thin they dropped, and stringy, one by one.” (677-681,
The true character of the pilgrim, Reeve in The Canterbury Tales Prologue, is revealed through his skillfulness, trickery and slyness. The Reeve seems to always be doing something dishonest, yet never gets caught. One of his most criminal acts is stealing from his lord, which he does too often. He continues to do the wrong thing, but as the manager of the estate, no one below him ever dares to do the same. The Reeve is able to outsmart those around him because he knows to never leave a trace of anything.
Often cynical Chaucer often criticized the church establishment. “There were some 8500 parishes in England in Chaucer’s Day” (Sigman, McLean 11). Socially, church leaders were at a higher level than the level of common people. Massive Cathedrals were being constructed and much money was being used for lavish lifestyles for church leaders. The Pardoner’s Tale invites the readers to look into a world where a pardon for sins or transgressions is available for a price. These ‘charitable donations’ were intended for the church and to be used in the community, but the reader is left to draw their own conclusions, given the questionable character of The
which shows him to be a rogue or a fraudster; someone who can not be
In Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Prologue, he uses satire in the development of his character, the Pardoner. Chaucer
The Church is the first institution that Chaucer attacks using satire in The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wants to attack the church’s hypocrisy. Chaucer decides to create the character of the pardoner to prove his point. Cawthorne conveys, “His Canterbury Tales collects together 24 narratives with a General Prologue and an epilogue or Retraction.” Chaucer describes the character before telling their tale. The Pardoner is a man who steals from the poor. Chaucer says on page 127 line 77, “For though I am a wholly vicious man don’t think I can’t tell moral tales.” The pardoner knows what he does is wrong, but he continues to do it anyway.