The Pardoners Tale

1
The Pardoners Tale

• By
• Geoffrey Chaucer

2
The Pardoner

• He is a fraud
• Sells fake religious relics to poor people
• We do not like him
• We do not trust him

3
The Pardoners Tale

• Theme
• Radix malorum est cupiditas
• Greed is the root of all evil

4
The Three Rioters

• Who long before the morning service
  bell, Were sitting in a tavern for a
  drink. (2-3)
• The Pardoner presents the rioters as sinners
• Drinking very early in the morning

5
The Three Rioters

• The rioter said, Is he so fierce to meet? Ill
  search for him, by Jesus, street by street. Gods
  blessed bones! Ill register a vow! Here, chaps!
  The three of us together now, Hold up your hands,
  like me, and well be brothers In this
  affair, and each defend the others, And we will
  kill this traitor Death, I say! Away with him as
  he has made away With all our friends. Gods
  dignity! Tonight! (33-41)

6
The Three Rioters

• The rioters are presented as pompous, stupid men
• Irony
• Believe they can kill Death
• Make oaths using the name of God
• Considered sacrilegious

7
The Three Rioters

• They made their bargain, swore their
  appetite, These three, to live and die for
  one another As brother-born might swear
  to his born brother. (42-44)
• All three commit to each other
• Irony
• Consider the ending

8
The Old Man

• What, old fool? Give place! Why are you all
  wrapped up except your face? Why live so
  long? Isnt it time to die? (57-59)

9
The Old Man

• Tone
• The rioters are disrespectful towards the old man
• They believe he is a spy for Death
• The old man gives them directions on how to find
  Death

10
The Gold Coins

• At once the three young rioters began To run,
  and reached the tree, and there they
  found A pile of golden florins on the
  ground, New-coined, eight bushels of them as
  they thought. No longer was it Death those
  fellows sought, For they were all so thrilled to
  see the sight, The florins were so beautiful and
  bright, That down they sat beside the precious
  pile. (110-117)

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The Gold Coins

• No longer concerned with Death
• Symbol of the gold
• Gold leads to Greed
• Greed leads to Death
• Therefore, Gold equals Death

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Plot Summary

• One rioter (A) returns to town to buy wine and
  bread while the other two (B C) stay to guard
  the gold
• B C conspire to kill A
• A decides to poison B C
• All three end up dying
• Greed caused them to die

13
Irony

• The Pardoner tells this tale
• He is driven by greed
• He is very similar to the three rioters
• Hypocrite