The Canterbury Tales | The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale Summary & Analysis | Geoffrey Chaucer

Summary

In 'The Pardoner's Tale' from *The Canterbury Tales*, the Pardoner reveals his corrupt preaching methods, exploiting people's greed for profit while preaching against it. He narrates the story of three young men who, after hearing of a deadly thief named Death, seek him out in a drunken rage. Their quest leads them to treasure beneath a tree, where greed takes hold, resulting in betrayal and death for all three. The tale serves as a moral lesson on the consequences of sinful behavior, illustrating the theme that one's actions ultimately lead to their downfall, encapsulated in the adage 'you reap what you sow.'

Takeaways

• 😇 The Pardoner manipulates people for money instead of caring for their souls.
• 🍷 The three young men in the tale indulge in vices like gluttony and drunkenness.
• ⚔️ Gluttony is highlighted as a major cause of human misery and grief.
• 👻 The young men learn about death personified as a thief who has been killing many.
• 🌳 They decide to find and confront death after hearing about the thief.
• 👴 An old man, who cannot die, directs them to a tree where they believe they can find death.
• 💰 The men discover a treasure of coins beneath the tree, distracting them from their goal.
• ☠️ The youngest man is killed by his companions who conspire against him for the treasure.
• 🍷 The poisoned wine results in the death of all three men, showcasing the tale's grim moral.
• 📜 The story illustrates that sinful actions lead to dire consequences, echoing the theme 'you reap what you sow.'

Q & A

What is the primary occupation of the Pardoner in the tale?

The Pardoner is a corrupt preacher who manipulates people into giving him money by pretending to care for their souls.

How does the Pardoner describe his preaching methods?

He states that he puts on a show to manipulate others, using the same texts repeatedly while living a greedy and selfish life.

What vices do the three young men in the tale indulge in?

The young men indulge in various vices, including gluttony, drunkenness, gambling, lying, and swearing in God's name.

What event prompts the three young men to seek out Death?

They encounter a coffin and learn that a man they knew has been killed by a thief called Death, which motivates them to confront and kill Death.

What does the old man tell the three young men?

The old man, who has lived a long time because Death will not take him, eventually directs them to a tree where they might find Death.

What do the young men find beneath the tree?

They discover a stash of coins beneath the tree and believe they have found a treasure.

What is the fate of the three young men by the end of the tale?

All three young men die: the youngest is killed by the others, and the two remaining men die from poisoned wine prepared by the youngest.

What moral lesson does the Pardoner convey through his tale?

The moral lesson is that sinful behavior ultimately leads to death, encapsulated in the phrase 'you reap what you sow.'

How does the Pardoner respond to the criticism from Harry Bailey?

The Pardoner becomes angry after being insulted by Harry Bailey, but the knight attempts to mediate and make peace between them.

What does the Pardoner's tale serve as a commentary on?

The tale serves as a commentary on the hypocrisy of those who preach morals while engaging in sinful behavior, particularly how the men attempt to destroy Death, equating their power with that of God.