Analysis Of The Pardoner - 1072 Words

My initial reaction to the work was one on astonishment. Everything that the Pardoner was saying and describing reminded me of the Evangelists of today of who travel from town to town and setup great big tents just to steal the money from good hard working people from the way the Pardoner has the same sermon practiced and rehearsed. Upon first reading, I have read this poem more than a few times, I jotted down some words that I had never heard of before, those being; Cuckold, Avarice, and Jakes. Geoffrey Chaucer lived between 1340 and 1400 in London England. The son of a Sommelier of sorts, his family made their money from the selling and buying of wine. In his teens Chaucer went to fight in the hundred years’ war during he was†¦show more content†¦In every small village that he visits his sermon topic is always the same: â€Å"greed is the root of evil.† The Pardoner always preaches about greed, the same sin that he admits to possessing. Although the Pardoner himself is guilty of Greed, he warns people about the dangers of covetousness through examples from history and the Bible. However, the Pardoner himself states â€Å"For I’ll have money, wool, and cheese, and wheat, though given by the poorest serving-lad, or by the poorest widow in the place† meaning that he would rather take from the starving and destitute than give up his creature comforts. In Flanders, there were three young hooligans who loved to amuse themselves by gambling, being rambunctious and drinking. The Pardoner goes into a speech of criticism about their sinful lives. Finally, after his long speech, the Pardoner reflects back onto the three young hooligans, who are drinking at the tavern when they hear the church bell signaling the sound of a passing coffin. A servant tells the group of travelers that the dead man was a friend of the three who had been stabbed in the night by a thief called â€Å"Death†. The young hooligans declare that they will find and kill the thief Death. They pledge to each other as brothers in their endeavor. The young hooligans meet an old man in rags who