Greed In The Pardoner's Tale
In the first tale, “The Pardoner’s Tale”, the Pardoner spins the tale of three greedy, avaricious men. Naturally, this means the tale is a warning against greed. After the three men’s deaths, the Pardoner decrees aims to a crowd of pilgrims: “O cursed sin! O blackguardly excess!” (Chaucer line 296 pg 175). Within the beginning of his following speech, the Pardoner condemns the three men’s greed for the money, which led them to betray each other and try to cheat death. Meanwhile, in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, the lesson features how one’s social standing does not equate to the quality of their character. During a lengthy speech, an old, poor woman admonishes a much younger, wealthier knight of over his disgust in her. In her passionate
speech, she states, “Gentility is only the renown for bounty that your fathers handed down, quite foreign to your person,” (Chaucer, line 335 pg 190). Here, “gentility” refers to one’s respectful, civil manners, however as the old woman points out, being better off financially and socially does not reflect the Knight’s own gentility, as he was merely born into, and never put into a situation that truly shows his true colors. As a result, the concept of being respectful is not one the Knight exercises. Outside of the tale, this still holds true. It is very, very common to meet people of high-class backgrounds that have self-entitled, spoiled attitudes. No matter how wealthy a person may be, they cannot buy manners. Additionally, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” expands on the issue of social standing, elaborating how a woman should never be below her husband, and rather on equal standing with him. The Knight answers the Wife of Bath’s question of what a woman wants most in a man, claiming, “Woman shouldn’t be below their husbands,” (Chaucer line 335, pg 190). In reality, the Knight merely takes the answer from the old woman, and, later, this old woman emphasizes the importance of this by not once submitting to the complaints and gripes of her husband. Instead, she asserts herself, not allowing the Knight to act as if he is above her.
speech, she states, “Gentility is only the renown for bounty that your fathers handed down, quite foreign to your person,” (Chaucer, line 335 pg 190). Here, “gentility” refers to one’s respectful, civil manners, however as the old woman points out, being better off financially and socially does not reflect the Knight’s own gentility, as he was merely born into, and never put into a situation that truly shows his true colors. As a result, the concept of being respectful is not one the Knight exercises. Outside of the tale, this still holds true. It is very, very common to meet people of high-class backgrounds that have self-entitled, spoiled attitudes. No matter how wealthy a person may be, they cannot buy manners. Additionally, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” expands on the issue of social standing, elaborating how a woman should never be below her husband, and rather on equal standing with him. The Knight answers the Wife of Bath’s question of what a woman wants most in a man, claiming, “Woman shouldn’t be below their husbands,” (Chaucer line 335, pg 190). In reality, the Knight merely takes the answer from the old woman, and, later, this old woman emphasizes the importance of this by not once submitting to the complaints and gripes of her husband. Instead, she asserts herself, not allowing the Knight to act as if he is above her.