Why Does the Pardoner Admit That He Is a Fraud Essay Example

in order for people to feel sympathy for him.Another reason the Pardoner admits that he is a fraud is because he is equally sympathetic toward the crowd of people. He warns that gambling and avarice is immoral, so he advises them to stay clear of those things. The Pardoner has been there before, and he wants to ensure that others don’t every have to endure the pain and devastation he has.

The Pardoner tells the people that “he who cultivates such tastes /is dead while he is living in those vices” (357). The crowd comprehends the Pardoner’s guidance and is attentive to his knowledge and advice.The Pardoner realizes how hypocritical humans are. The people who purchased the so-called relics during this time period must have had at least some knowledge that Pardoners were notorious for being scoundrels. Once the Pardoner tells the people of his lying and trickery, the crowd no longer desires to purchase any of the relics.

They subconsciously know that there is something wrong with all pardoners and the relic business, but they are in denial because they can’t admit that they are wrong. Buying fake religious relics and knowing they are not authentic is hypocritical.People have no problem that they are religious, but they are unwilling to admit they are religious for merely the reason of social acceptance. The Pardoner tells them of his fraudulence as a way to bring to the crowd’s attention that they live in hypocrisy. Just like the Pardoner has created a pathos and ethos effect, Chaucer has created a similar satirical result. By generating a collection of accounts during expeditions to Canterbury, Chaucer has made it

possible to share many morally and emotionally appealing stories.

Not only is the Pardoner an example of a typical deceptive priest during this time, but he is the symbol of human imperfection. Although hypocritical, the Pardoner’s underlying ambition is to aware people of the dangers of gambling, avarice, and dishonesty. He has experienced what it’s like to be avaricious, and he is sympathetic toward the crowd of people that he’s selling his relics to. The Pardoner pities dishonest humans, which is why he admits that he is a fraud.