Hypocricy in The Pardoner’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer

Hypocrisy is “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform. The Pardoner in “The Pardoner’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer portrays a perfect example of hypocrisy as shown he “does not practice what he preaches” (141-142).

The Pardoner assaults selfishness in his sermons to impact his social event of people to surrender their gold to him to atone from their insatiability. Medieval Catholics were strong enthusiasts and might buy the relics and absolved knowing the Pardoner was a hypocrite. Although Catholics may think the Pardoner is a pretender, they would exploit each entryway for atonement, even a false one.

The Pardoner plainly believes that his lifestyle has nothing to do with the success of his preaching and should not affect them in any way. For example, the Pardoner states “Of avarice and of swich cursednesse Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free To yeven hir pens; and namely, unto me!” (112-114). This quote introduces the main notion of the Pardoner’s misleading covetousness, as he goes against cupidity in his preaching to make his audience individuals more liberal with their coins. He mortifies others for their insatiability with a certain end goal to fulfill his own, which the members fall for.

In addition, he describes himself in a way that influences him to appear like a sacred illustrative of the Pope himself. He knows his gathering of people: there’s the setup, story, and the endeavor to offer something, all wonderfully passed on. He uses certain phrases, sacred writing, and authentic figures to exhibit his point. The Pardoner is exceedingly pleased with himself as he utilizes pietism to control. “Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne That is joye to se my bisynesse“ (112-113). He’s a scholarly person who puts his smarts to egotistical utilize.

For the most part, the Pardoner proves he is remorseless and unredeemable as he demonstrates his capacity to inspire genuine disgrace and apology to others without ever once being affected by these sentiments himself. He proves he is heartless as he says “But though myself be gilty in that synne, Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne From avarice, and soore to repente” (141 – 143).

All things being equal, he contends that in spite of his flawed ethics, he can at present lecture a conventional sermon that moves atonement, which Catholics want, making the Pardoner a deceiver.