The Canterbury Tales Friar Analysis

The Unworthy Friar

It is hard to believe that the clergy, in the Middle Ages, was supposed to be the class for morality, yet the clergy was filled with corruption. Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, does a miraculous job of highlighting the Middle Age clergy. Chaucer’s Prologue introduces the viewers to a number of pilgrims, who range from pure to unprincipled. The Friar is a magnificent example of how corrupt the clergymen can be at times. A friar is supposed to represent the Mendicant Catholic church. A friar’s job description is to give up worldly possessions and to travel place to place by begging. However, Chaucer’s description of the Friar varies very differently to the job title he supposedly represents. Chaucer’s focus

on the Friar’s moral standards compared to others of the same occupation. According to Chaucer, the Friar acts like a snob, is corrupted by greed, and does not represent the clergy well. The viewers can see that by Chaucer’s description that the Friar is driven by greed in almost every task he partakes in.
When the narrator first introduces the readers to the Friar, Chaucer quickly shows the readers that the Friar is on a higher class of social grace far above that of an ordinary friar.

The narrator gives the readers a few important details, “In all four Orders there was none so mellow,/ So glib with gallant phrase and well-turned speech” (Chaucer, 210-11). The reader analyzes that the Friar is very knowledgeable and sociable. Also that the Friar is a “very ceremonious fellow” (Chaucer, 209). Which tells the reader that he invited to many events in his district. This does not seem to be the typical friar who is supposed to live through life traveling without a roof over his head. The level of comfort the Friar has with those around him impose that he came from aristocratic birth. When nobles who could not provide for their children, the nobles would simply give the child to the clergy. This is most likely the case with the Friar that Chaucer tells the readers of. The text seems to indicate why the Friar’s morality may not have been of his concern. As the Friar believed it was below his standards to, “dealing with a scum/ Of wretched lepers; nothing good can come/ Of commerce with such slum-and-gutter dwellers” (Chaucer, 249-251). Considering the position of the Friar, it is very unusual for him to refer to those he is supposed to care for. Furthermore, the readers are told that the Friar knows all the worthy women of his territory. Without doubt, the Friar feels his duties are below his standards and associates with others of his social class. The speaker narrates the Friar as a high

brow.
A common practice among friars in the Middle Ages was the selling of religious favors. Indulgences, pardons, or the monetary sale of divine influence are just a few examples of how the Friar would take full advantage of the corrupt clergy system. An example of how the Friar would take advantage of the system is, “He was an easy man in penance-giving/ Where he could hope to make a decent living” (Chaucer, 223-4). The last quote told the reader that he gives easy penance if he knows that he is going to be given a satisfying donation. The Friar goes wherever he can find a profit. He would rather associate with the rich, then serve the poor. The narrator even states that the Friar, “It’s a sure sign whenever gift are given/ To a poor Order that man’s well shriven/ And should he give enough he knew in verity” (Chaucer, 229-231). Furthermore, he goes wherever he can be satisfied with a profit. The Friar gains more money than he needs to pay for the license he has to be able to beg. This leads the reader to comprehend where the rest of the money goes. Surely, the profit would go to benefit his district, however it seems that would be highly unlikely given the moral standard of this character. The money could be going to “every innkeeper and barmaid,” or to divulge himself with a robe “of double-worsted” (Chaucer, 245, 270). The Friar uses his position to fancy himself with nice things or his greed.