The Role Of Corruption In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales is used by Chaucer as a means to expose and criticize the corruption of the church during the 13th century. In the years prior and after the Great Schism the church was an institution that held much power and wealth, all this was possible because people blindly followed. The Church acted as a false beacon of hope for its followers by preaching a life of prosperity and salvation so long as they could afford the monetary price of a good life. Clergy exploited church goers and convinced them out of their money. Chaucer makes the Friar one of his characters and in his description he notes the following, "He was the beste beggere in his hous" (line 251b). The Friar is praised for being a beggere, but not just any beggere, he is