Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Commentary
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer depicts the Pardoner as a cunning, amoral man as to correlates these greedy characteristics to the lay community in the Middle Ages.
One of the first lines spoken of the pardoner displays him to have "sang deep seconds to this song, No trumpet ever sounded half this strong," as he had just returned from the Court of Rome (Chaucer). Near the end this behavior is explained as he "knew that when that song was sung... [he] could win silver from the crowd; That's why he sang so merrily and loud," as the last lines to bring his character together (Chaucer). The Pardoner does not take part in mass for his own faith, rather when he leads in song he was able to earn money by it from the congregation. As these are the final words on his personality, one may infer this was a conscious decision made by the author in order to leave a final, bitter impression of this occupation. He convinces those who are of a low class with "his flatteries and prevarication" to buy the relics he is selling in order to earn a higher social class as owning holy objects could provide in the Middle Ages. The Pardoner does not conduct business truthfully or honestly and instead takes advantage of the lower class's own greed for status to make his own living. In this way, Chaucer not only mocks the Church's lack of authority to let those like the Pardoner do as they pleased, but the author more importantly illustrates the lay people of the time to also to have been just as dishonest and conceited rather than with faith as they attempt to portray themselves with.
One of the first lines spoken of the pardoner displays him to have "sang deep seconds to this song, No trumpet ever sounded half this strong," as he had just returned from the Court of Rome (Chaucer). Near the end this behavior is explained as he "knew that when that song was sung... [he] could win silver from the crowd; That's why he sang so merrily and loud," as the last lines to bring his character together (Chaucer). The Pardoner does not take part in mass for his own faith, rather when he leads in song he was able to earn money by it from the congregation. As these are the final words on his personality, one may infer this was a conscious decision made by the author in order to leave a final, bitter impression of this occupation. He convinces those who are of a low class with "his flatteries and prevarication" to buy the relics he is selling in order to earn a higher social class as owning holy objects could provide in the Middle Ages. The Pardoner does not conduct business truthfully or honestly and instead takes advantage of the lower class's own greed for status to make his own living. In this way, Chaucer not only mocks the Church's lack of authority to let those like the Pardoner do as they pleased, but the author more importantly illustrates the lay people of the time to also to have been just as dishonest and conceited rather than with faith as they attempt to portray themselves with.
Level of Society
The Pardoner lives in a social class that is beneath the working class. He cons money out of the working class by selling fake relics of the Church and pardons for sins that people have committed. The relics that he sold added a social status to those who possess them. People believe that he is part of the Church when he uses the Church's reputation to help con the working class which reflects the materialistic greed of the people in the Middle Ages.
A Bargain has Appeared!
Here is thorn from Jesus Christ's actual crown of thorns. If you would like to make an offer, please email me and we can work out an agreement. I'm sure we can definitely work something out.
Social Commentary
The Pardoner is below what was considered the lower class in Medieval England. He is a con artist who took advantage of the workng class by selling false relics. Relics were ancient religious items sold, the more relics a person possesses the greater social rank one had. The Pardoner sold illegitimate relics and begged for people to buy them in order to make a living for himself instead of holding any respectable occupation. The Pardoner's tale indirectly displays the greedy and unfaithful hcharacteristics of low class society in Medieval England.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Greetings to all God's men!
Welcome one, and welcome all! Perhaps you have visited this blog dedicated to Chaucer's most generous, most noble pilgrim, The Pardoner, in search of a deal? Yes, sir, along with information on my most gentle self and my--irrelevant social class, I've many the bargains to offer you! Indeed, I do think Joan's very spirit is calling out from the stake she was burned on, calling for you to make a purchase and possess it yourself...
This blog was made as a counter to my business in order to explain to my customers who their merchant exactly is. Here we have included information of the times I arrive from, analyzing my own social class and the morals I hold. Fascinating, isn't it? The work here has been divided amongst four, like a guild of sorts, each doing their part on their individual posts. Little by little, it appears to fall into place!
Say--what is this I have here! If you were to buy this nail of our Lord Jesus Christ, special access to this blog may be granted!
...What? No, I think you misunderstand, I have here a toenail of Jesus Christ. But with enough coin I may be able to find one of the cross... Now, what do you say, good sir?
This blog was made as a counter to my business in order to explain to my customers who their merchant exactly is. Here we have included information of the times I arrive from, analyzing my own social class and the morals I hold. Fascinating, isn't it? The work here has been divided amongst four, like a guild of sorts, each doing their part on their individual posts. Little by little, it appears to fall into place!
Say--what is this I have here! If you were to buy this nail of our Lord Jesus Christ, special access to this blog may be granted!
...What? No, I think you misunderstand, I have here a toenail of Jesus Christ. But with enough coin I may be able to find one of the cross... Now, what do you say, good sir?
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