The Pardoner

Peter Wolkofsky and Tony Chen

The character of the Pardoner in “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer is quite a scary person when you read about it. The Pardoner is a man who collects money from people who want to get rid of their sins. This money is supposed to go to the hospital, in this case St. Mary of Rouncivalle. This man is supposed to be an honest man who collects charity to give to the hospital so that it can run more efficiently.

In Chaucer’s case in “The Canterbury Tales” the Pardoner is a phony “He made dupes of the Parson and his flock. Although his conscience was little plastic he was in church a noble ecclesiastic” (Chaucer, 688-690). The appearance portrayed by the Pardoner is of a sleazy kind human being “This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax, but it hung as smoothly as a hank of flax” (Chaucer, 657-658). This pardoner knew once he started to do his shtick, he had to be on his game so he would get his money. This Pardoner prided himself on being very good at being a con-artist “For he understood that when this song was sung, Then he must preach, and sharpen up his tongue To rake in cash, as well he knew the art, And so he sang out gaily with full heart”(Chaucer, 693-697).

In today’s society the Pardoner would remind me of a con-artist. Someone who pretends to be someone they are not to take advantage of innocent people.