The Prologue to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is an introduction of all different "pilgrims" on the journey. Each comes from different walks of life. Some are wealthy, some are poor, some are moral, and others are corrupt. Identify Chaucer's main criticism about his contemporaries in society during the Middle Ages. Explain, using examples of at least 2 of the pilgrims described in the Prologue, how their portrayals show Chaucer's point. Your response should be a minimum of 6-8 sentences. Use quotes to support your answer.
In The Prologue to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer criticizes his contemporaries in medieval society for their moral corruption and hypocrisy. He exposes the stark contrast between their outward appearances and their true nature, shedding light on societal issues. One example is the Pardoner, who is described as having a reputation for selling fake relics and granting pardon for sins in exchange for money. Chaucer writes, "With him there rode a gentle PARDONER/ Of Roncevalles, his friend and his compeer,/ That straightway was as full of pardons clear,/ As is a hive of honey full of bees." This portrays the Pardoner's profession as deceitful and exploitative, revealing the moral corruption within the Church.
Additionally, the Wife of Bath is another character who exemplifies Chaucer's criticism of his contemporaries. She is described as having had five husbands and being well-versed in the art of persuasion and manipulation. Chaucer writes, "In all the parish not a dame dared stir/ Towards the altar steps in front of her," highlighting her dominant and overpowering nature. The Wife of Bath's multiple marriages and her insatiable desire for control and power critique the institution of marriage and expose the moral depravity prevalent in society.
Through the portrayals of these characters, Chaucer reveals the corruption and hypocrisy prevalent in his contemporaries. The Pardoner represents the deceitful practices within the Church, while the Wife of Bath embodies the moral degradation of societal institutions. Chaucer's criticism is not limited to one particular group but extends to all walks of life, emphasizing the widespread nature of moral corruption during the Middle Ages.
Chaucer's main criticism about his contemporaries in society during the Middle Ages is their hypocrisy and moral corruption. The portrayals of the Pardoner and the Friar in the Prologue exemplify this critique.
The Pardoner is described as someone who is supposed to be a figure of religious authority but is actually corrupt and driven by greed. Chaucer writes, "With us there dwelled a wanton and a mery, /A limiter, a ful solempne man" (lines 573-574). This character claims to have relics that can save people's souls, yet willingly admits his fraudulent practices by saying, "Myne housbond hath a legende and a parde, /As fer as everich ffrere in Lumbardye" (lines 681-682). Through the Pardoner, Chaucer criticizes the church for allowing such individuals to exploit people's faith for personal gain.
Similarly, the Friar is portrayed as someone who uses his religious role to take advantage of others. Chaucer describes him as a "wanton" and "well beloved and familiar" (lines 210-211), suggesting that he is more focused on worldly pleasures than spiritual matters. Chaucer states, "And eek a religiouse man, a frayre" (line 211), highlighting the irony of a holy figure engaging in immoral behavior. This depiction criticizes the hypocrisy and lack of genuine devotion among religious figures of the time.
Through these portrayals, Chaucer showcases the widespread moral corruption in society, particularly among those in positions of religious authority. His criticism is rooted in the glaring disconnect between the supposed moral ideals upheld by these figures and their actual behavior, which tarnishes the integrity of the church and the entire social fabric of the Middle Ages.
To understand Chaucer's main criticism about his contemporaries in society during the Middle Ages, we need to examine the portrayals of specific pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales' Prologue. Two such characters who exemplify Chaucer's point are the Pardoner and the Friar.
Firstly, Chaucer uses the Pardoner, a corrupt clergyman who sells fake religious relics, to criticize the greed and hypocrisy prevalent in the Church. Chaucer writes, "With him there rode a gentil Pardoner / Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer" (lines 691-692). These lines imply that the Pardoner is more interested in material gain and companionship rather than genuinely serving the needs of the devotees. By highlighting the Pardoner's immoral behavior, Chaucer exposes the corruption within religious institutions.
Secondly, Chaucer critiques the moral decay in society through the character of the Friar, who is depicted as manipulative and morally bankrupt. Chaucer describes the Friar as someone who would "ogle and make advances to [young women] / for his own advantage or for pleasure" (lines 216-217). This portrayal highlights the Friar's abuse of his clerical position for personal desires, rather than fulfilling his religious duties. Chaucer's description reveals the lack of sincerity and moral integrity present in some individuals during the Middle Ages.
In conclusion, Chaucer's main criticism in The Canterbury Tales focuses on the corruption and moral decay he observed among his contemporaries. Through characters like the Pardoner and the Friar, Chaucer exposes the greed and hypocrisy within the Church and society as a whole. These characters symbolize the larger issue of individuals prioritizing personal gain and worldly pleasures over genuine spiritual devotion, and their portrayals serve as examples of Chaucer's critique.