Canterbury Tales Morality Paper

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Eternal Bliss or Life Amiss?: Analysis of Theme in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales The Christian Church has been a driving force in politics and morals for hundreds of years. In the medieval time period in Europe, the Church was particularly strong, a majority of the European peoples and rulers were followers. The set of moral codes and virtues the Church sets forth dictates how each person should live. Provided that one follows these morals, the Church guarantees every follower a place in Heaven, a paradise for a soul after its body’s death. Although the Christian Church offers salvation to each of its followers, nevertheless, certain people’s desire for immediate reward leads them to sin because the idea of an immediate reward outweighs that of a reward promised by the Church for the afterlife. In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, the Pardoner, the Summoner, the Oxford Cleric, and the Friar seek immediate reward in cheating unsuspecting victims, in doing as little of what displeases them as possible, and in seeking extravagant possessions and pleasures. Characters in The Canterbury Tales see opportunities for riches, however immoral, and in pursuing them lose the Church’s promise of entrance into Heaven. The Pardoner and the Summoner in particular display a desire to cheat out anyone they can in order to further their own personal wealth. The Pardoner carries with him “…a pillow-case/Which he assert[s] …[is]…Our Lady’s veil” (Chaucer 712-713) and he is said to find “Some poor up-county parson to astound,” (720) charging them to see and touch this false relic. Though he seems a virtuous and trustworthy man, the Pardoner is just a fourteenth century con artist. His official job in the church is to sell ... ... middle of paper ... ...eds of years and remains as such. When inducted to service with the Church, each of the characters: the Pardoner, the Summoner, the Oxford Cleric, and the Friar, are given a place of paradise for their souls after death. As officials in such a highly respected institution, each is expected to maintain his responsibilities and behavior in a proper manner. After seeing the opportunity for personal gain, however, each of the men ignores his job and does exactly what pleases him most. The choice of an immediate pleasure over an eternal pleasure is too great, and thus, each does things that they can not seem to help themselves from doing. These include accepting bribes and cheating unsuspecting holy men, sinful and wicked crimes. It is therefore evident that because each of the characters mentioned prefers his way to the Church’s, he sins and gives up his place in Heaven.

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