Essay on Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most influential writers of his time, whose works mirrored critically social norms and beliefs of his contemporaries. In this respect, Chaucer’s depiction of the clergymen is particularly noteworthy because, in contrast to the traditional piety in relation to clergymen, Chaucer tends to the satirical and ironical depiction of clergymen as is the case of the Pardoner’s Tale, where the narrator belongs to the clergymen but uses his position for his own benefits.
Chaucer is very critical in his view on clergymen. To put it more precisely, he debunks the myth about the clergymen as the community of people living a virtuous lifestyle. Instead, he uncovers numerous vices clergymen are inclined to just like the average people. More important, Chaucer stresses the hypocrisy of clergymen, who pretend to be virtuous people, whereas their acts and thoughts reveal their sinful nature. Clergymen depicted by Chaucer are not a community of virtuous people. On the contrary, it is rather the community of sinners, whose sins are eve graver compared to the average people because they disguise their sins under the mask of virtuous lifestyle.
At this point, it is possible to refer to the Pardoner’s Tale, where the narrator reveals the sinful nature of the clergyman narrating the story. In fact, the main character of the story is not a virtuous person as he pretends to be. On the contrary, he peruses personal benefits and wealth rather than virtue. In such a way, Chaucer debunks the myth about clergymen as the community of virtuous people. instead, he uncovers their sins and disparity between what they tell and promote and what they actually do.
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