Throughout literature relationships can often be found between the author of the story and the story that he writes but in this case tells. When reading and analzying the Canterbury Tales you discover that many of the characters make this idea evident with the tales that they tell. For instance, a distinct similarity can be made between the character of the Pardnor and the tale he tells.
Through the prologue to the Pardnors tales, the character of the Pardnor is revealed. Althrough the Pardnor displays many essential traits, the most prevalent is his greed. All through the prologue, the Pardnor displays his greed and even admits that the only thing he cares for is money. " The curse of avarice"æis all my sermon; For it frees the pelp"- (The Canterbury Tales, 266-67). This avarice is strongly in the Pardnors tale as well. In the pardnors tale, three rioters begin a journey in hopes to find Death.
From the first page of Canterbury Tales: The Wife ...
Portrait of the Friar from the Ellesmere Manuscrip...
detail from The Canterbury Pilgrims showing the Pa...On their quest, an old man leads them to a great deal of teasure. At this point, all three of the friends in the tale display greed similar to the Pardnor's. The three friends decide that someone should bring bread and wine for a celebration. As one of the rioters leaves to go buy wine, the others plot to kill him so that they can split the teasures only two ways.
Even the rioter who goes to get wine and bread decides to prison his other two companions. The greed, which is evident in the character of the Pardoner, is also clearly seen in the tale.
Another trait that is shown by the Pardnor and the characters in his tale is hypocrisy. Eventhough the Pardnor is extremely greedy, he continues to try to teach others that "Avarice is the root of all evil". Hypocrisy is installed in his charaters as well.
As the tale begins, the rioters act very trustworthy and faithful towards eachother.
""æSwore with appetidecisions to risk their lives while trying to slay their friend's murderer.
Towards the end of the story, the rioters begin to reveal their true nature. They all turn on eachother in atempt to steal the treasue for themselves. While the two rioters plotted to kill the other rioter, the other rioter plotted to kill the both of them. These so-called "brothers" displayed their true ruthlessness and revealed their hypocrisy in relation to the Pardnor's character.
The Pardnor also possessed a trait of carelessiness for others, being that he is a priest. "Once dead what mater"æThey can go blackberrying for all I care"- (Canterbury, 271-72). The rioter who went to fatch food was given this triat of the Pardnor's honestly.
He planned "To kill them both and never repent"- (Canterbury, 501) The characters in the "Pardnor's Tale" match the unctuous nature of the Pardnor in a great deal of ways. All of these traits and ideas that are illustrated in both the Pardnor te; These three, to live and die for one another"æ"- (349-50). They nobly make and the tale he tells show a strong relationship in the two. The comparsions give a greater insight into the mind of the teller.
The Canterbury Pilgrims Copper engraving printed o...
Canterbury Tales, Woodcut 1484
The Canterbury Tales (TV series)