Corruption In Chaucer's Hierarchy
Chaucer’s depiction of the hierarchy within the church highlights the inverse relationship between religious “purity” and corruption.
Chaucer’s scandalous nun and monk abuse their power and influence to reappropriate funds in order to fuel their gold-dipped dreams of nobility. The monk and nun are quite prone to ostentatious displays of wealth, this is shown by the fragments ”[the Nun had] a golden brooch of brightest sheen”(164), “[the monk] spared no expense… the finest in the land”(198-99), and “[the monk] had a wrought-gold, cunningly fashioned pin...”(200), the presence of the luxurious metal gold alludes to the corruption of the church. Chaucer’s nun and monk are also immodest of their conspicuous lust for ‘love’ and promiscuity, which
is the exact juxtaposition of the expectations of their positions, the two following fragments show this quite undeniably “[the monk had] a lover’s knot”(201) “[the nun’s brooch was engraved with] Amor vincit omnia”(166). Finally the nun and the monk are equally guilty of straying from their duties as shown by the following fragments”[the monk] let Austin… labor”, “[the monk] was not pale like a tormented soul”, and”[the nun] was charitably solicitous…[she fed]little dogs...roasted flesh...milk...fine white bread”(147-151) this demonstrates the utter disregard for the designated duties that their respective positions entail, and is one of the perfidious actions that cement the status of the corruption and lack of conviction for the ideals of the Christian religion. In conclusion, the presented evidence further laminates the notion that the nun and monk conspicuously and apathetically abuse their power in order to narcissistically improve their social status and, already privileged, life.
Chaucer’s Friar and Pardoner demonstrate the lessening amount of conspicuity in corruption present among those lower on the clerical ladder.
Chaucer’s humble Parson depicts the purity of religion, when abided by passionately, in addition the Parson accentuates the inverse the relationship between clerical rank and corruption.
In conclusion, as the evidence displayed in this paper demonstrates, that conspicuity corruption is directly correlated with rank, in addition as the rank lowers the3 commitment to the ideals of the religion becomes higher. All in all the Chaucer’s clerical characters represent the rampant corruption present with the highest members of clerical society, however, the Parson serves as a saving grace for the integrity of the church.
Chaucer’s scandalous nun and monk abuse their power and influence to reappropriate funds in order to fuel their gold-dipped dreams of nobility. The monk and nun are quite prone to ostentatious displays of wealth, this is shown by the fragments ”[the Nun had] a golden brooch of brightest sheen”(164), “[the monk] spared no expense… the finest in the land”(198-99), and “[the monk] had a wrought-gold, cunningly fashioned pin...”(200), the presence of the luxurious metal gold alludes to the corruption of the church. Chaucer’s nun and monk are also immodest of their conspicuous lust for ‘love’ and promiscuity, which
is the exact juxtaposition of the expectations of their positions, the two following fragments show this quite undeniably “[the monk had] a lover’s knot”(201) “[the nun’s brooch was engraved with] Amor vincit omnia”(166). Finally the nun and the monk are equally guilty of straying from their duties as shown by the following fragments”[the monk] let Austin… labor”, “[the monk] was not pale like a tormented soul”, and”[the nun] was charitably solicitous…[she fed]little dogs...roasted flesh...milk...fine white bread”(147-151) this demonstrates the utter disregard for the designated duties that their respective positions entail, and is one of the perfidious actions that cement the status of the corruption and lack of conviction for the ideals of the Christian religion. In conclusion, the presented evidence further laminates the notion that the nun and monk conspicuously and apathetically abuse their power in order to narcissistically improve their social status and, already privileged, life.
Chaucer’s Friar and Pardoner demonstrate the lessening amount of conspicuity in corruption present among those lower on the clerical ladder.
Chaucer’s humble Parson depicts the purity of religion, when abided by passionately, in addition the Parson accentuates the inverse the relationship between clerical rank and corruption.
In conclusion, as the evidence displayed in this paper demonstrates, that conspicuity corruption is directly correlated with rank, in addition as the rank lowers the3 commitment to the ideals of the religion becomes higher. All in all the Chaucer’s clerical characters represent the rampant corruption present with the highest members of clerical society, however, the Parson serves as a saving grace for the integrity of the church.