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What is the irony in pardoner tale?

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Anonymous

10y ago
Updated: 4/16/2022

The situational irony in the perdoners tale is that In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer the Pardoner's actions of dishonesty and greed are prime examples of situational irony. Situational irony is when something or someone does the opposite of what is expected. 'In church he was a noble ecclesiast' (Chaucer 141) The Pardoner is supposedly a man of God, yet he does not act like it. He is disrespectful and even dishonest. However, he comes off as righteous by telling biblical stories and preaching. By being hypocritical and greedy the Pardoner is the perfect example of situational irony.

To begin, the Pardoner shows situational irony by being dishonest. He steals from the church constantly. '…with others I have power to win them from it, I can bring them to repent…' (Chaucer 151) Basically, he acts as a salesman by talking people into buying more pardons, and then keeps the money for himself. He uses his talent of thinking on his feet and coming up with great biblical stories to earn money, 'A yokel mind loves stories of old, being the kind it can repeat and hold…' (Chaucer 152) He convinces people the things they have done are worse than they are, therefore they are conned into giving him more money, which he keeps all for himself.

As ironic as it is to see the Pardoner be dishonest, it is even more ironic how greedy is. Like mentioned before he makes his living off of selling pardons, even pardons against avarice, yet he is very greedy himself. He admits he'll go after anyone for money. 'I mean to have money…though it were given to me by the poorest lad...' (Chaucer 152) He admits to preaching only because he wants money saying, 'A livelihood. I do not preach in vain…I mean to have money…' (Chaucer 152) It is also very apparent that the Pardoner is greedy enough to steal from the collection baskets in church, 'But best of all he sang an Offertory…' (Chaucer 141) This implies he takes the money from there as well.

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Velma Schumm

Lvl 10
3y ago

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The literary element that best describes the resolution of the Pardoner's tale is irony. The Pardoner, who preaches against greed and deception, ends up demonstrating these very vices himself in the story's resolution. The characters' actions and outcomes serve as a stark example of dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of the true meaning behind the events.


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