Keyword Guide · book-summary
The Prologue to The Pardoner’s Tale is one of the most famous character reveals in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In this section, the Pardoner openly admits to his corruption, explaining how he uses his position in the church to manipulate the poor for personal gain.
The Pardoner begins by describing his preaching style. He explains that he always uses the same theme: 'Radix malorum est cupiditas,' which translates to 'Greed is the root of all evil.' Ironically, he admits that he only preaches this message to convince people to give him money, satisfying his own greed. He is a master of rhetoric who uses his silver tongue to guilt audiences into buying his pardons and viewing his 'holy' relics.
During the prologue, the Pardoner reveals that the relics he carries are actually fakes. He describes using sheep bones and old rags while claiming they have miraculous powers, such as curing sick animals or increasing a farmer's grain yield. He specifically targets the guilty, telling the congregation that anyone who has committed a 'horrible sin' is not worthy to touch his relics, which ironically pressures people into buying his goods to prove their innocence.
A central theme of the prologue is the Pardoner's lack of moral conscience. He admits that he does not care about the salvation of the souls he preaches to; his only goal is to live a life of luxury and ease. Despite being a 'vicious' man, he acknowledges that he can still tell a 'moral tale.' This creates a complex literary paradox where a corrupt individual serves as a vessel for a righteous message.
When analyzing this text for class or exams, focus on the concept of 'Literary Hypocrisy.' The Pardoner is an unreliable narrator who is fully aware of his villainy. Compare his confession here to the descriptions provided in the General Prologue. For essay topics, consider how Chaucer uses the Pardoner to critique the institutional corruption of the 14th-century Church while maintaining the artistic value of the story itself.
The main theme is 'Radix malorum est cupiditas,' meaning 'Greed is the root of all evil.' He uses this theme to manipulate people into giving him money.
The Pardoner is boastful and cynical. He takes pride in his ability to deceive others and believes he is superior to the 'common people' he tricks.
No, he explicitly tells the other pilgrims that his relics are fake, consisting of common items like sheep bones that he claims have magical properties.
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