Salvation And The Pardoner's Tale Comparison

Although “The Pardoner’s Tale” and Selling Salvation” come from two different genres they both share similarities and differences.AlthoughAlothough these two texts from very different genres, “The Pardoner’s Tale” and “Selling Salvation,” still have many similarities and differences. While “The Pardoner’s Tale” is an imaginary tale, “Selling Salvation” is a non-fiction text article. Still, through characteristics, author’s purpose, and author’s craft, these two texts resemble each other in some way, while still having their own unique differences.
Characteristics are a critical part of the story/article. The theme in both literary works is centered around the belief that greed leads to horrible consequences. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” it tells

a story of how friends become enemies, causing the three good friends to poison and harm each other, all in hopes of keeping the gold to themselves. Little did they know, all of them plotting against each other - lead to the death of them all. As the youngest thought “that with poison he could kill his friends… To kill them both and never repent.” (245-251). Meanwhile, the other two thought, “And two are twice as powerful as one… I’ll put my dagger through his back… Then all this money will be ours to spend.” (224-233) Similarly, in “Selling Salvation,” Popoff scammed viewers, forcing them to send in money in return for “miracle release, miracle money, miracle healing, and miracle deliverance in your life.” (2) Through the greed of the owner of Popoff, many were scammed into giving in their hard-earned money. However, there are still some differences in the texts. For example,“The Pardoner’s Tale” is imaginary, with phrases like, “A pile of golden florins on the ground, New-coined, eight bushels of them as they thought.” (170-171) On the other hand, “Selling Salvation” is based off of a true story from Carol Bercier. The story showcases her real life experience with Popoff and how she was negatively affected by it.
The purpose of reading a piece of literature is extremely important to the reader’s understanding and learning.

In both texts, the author’s purpose is to convey a message to their readers. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the moral is to not be greedy, as greed leads to horrendous consequences, even death, as shown in the story. As the three rioters each desired to keep all the gold for themselves, it led to their deaths. Likewise, in “Selling Salvation,” it tells readers that greed is horrible and to not believe everything that is seen or heard. Though Bercier believed in Popoff, after feeling increasingly desperate, she decided to try it out. Little did she know, the letters from Popoff started to request more and more money, while not helping her in any way. Aside from the similarities of conveying a message, “The Pardoner’s Tale” can also be used as a source of entertainment, while “Selling Salvation” can be used to inform the reader and public about the dangers of Popoff. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the Pardoner beings the story with, “It’s of three rioters I have to tell. Who, long before the morning service bell, Were sitting in a tavern for a drink.” (58-60) In contrast, “Selling Salvation” educates and warns the public about Popoff and its ways to scam believers into giving their money to Popoff. For instance, in the seventh paragraph, it states, “If you follow the directions, you’ll soon discover that the miracle water is only the beginning. Once on Popoff’s mailing list, you’ll receive letter after letter - as we did - asking for more money in exchange for

miracles…”
Finally, the author’s craft also contributes to the understanding of the reader. Both “The Pardoner’s Tale” and “Selling Salvation” have descriptive details, contributing to the interest and learning of the reader. In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the author uses phrases like, “See how I wither, flesh and blood and skin!” In the same way, in “Selling Salvation,” the author gives specific examples of instructions sent to the customer, providing the audience with detailed warnings. Some instructions state, “enclose trinkets like a piece of insel referred to as a gold and silver blessing bracelet, and a sheet of paper leaf cut-outs to be placed on a prayer chart and sent to PopoOff. In that letter, you’re told that “God is requesting an obedience offerening of $200” (9)
“The Pardoner’s Tale” is written in poetic and lyrical language, with the endings rhyming. For example, it states, “Not even Death, alas, will take my life; So, like a wretched prisoner at strife Within himself, I walk alone and wait About the earth, which is my mother’s gate, Knock-knocking with my staff from night to noon And crying, ‘Mother, open to me soon!’”
Conversely, “Selling Salvation” is written in more modern and simple language and engages the reader. A set of instructions “tell[s] you to eat the salt over a three-day period, then send in $27 to Popoff.”
Thus, as different as fiction and non-fiction texts may seem, they, surprisingly, still have many similarities through the characteristics, author’s purpose, and author’s craft. Although these two texts are written in drastically different manners, they still convey the same message, one we must always remember: that greed can lead to frightful results.