The Pardoner By: Gianna Natale

Direct characterization The Pardoner has long, blonde hair, a hairless face, bulging eyes, and a light voice. He wears a long robe, a satchel with a cross on it, a small cap with a holy relic sewed onto it, and he rides a horse. He carries with him a cross made up of stones, a glass jar of pig bones, a piece of St. Peter’s sail and Mary’s veil. “This Pardoner had a hair as yellow as wax, Hanging down smoothly like a hank of flax.” (695)

Indirect characterization The Pardoner was more towards the bottom of the Pyramid of Powers. The quote above suggests with his preaches, some form of money is included. This quote also tells us not only does he preach, but he sing an Offertory at church. “For well he knew that when that song was sung He’d have to preach and tune his honey-tongue And (well he could) win silver form the crowd. That’s why he sang so merrily and loud.” ( )

Indirect characterization The Pardoner’s deadly sin would be avarice. When he preached, he was very greedy and lacked selfless-ness. He always wanted more and never appreciated what he had gotten from others. “And with these relics, any time he found Some poor up-country parson to around… And by his flatteries and prevarication Made monkeys of the priest and congregation.” ( )

Indirect characterization Being a part of the lower class, the Pardoner does not uphold the proper values of his social position. Not being one of the most wealthy people, one should accept whatever they can get. Instead, he makes an effort to get more because he cannot understand the concept of “beggers can’t be choosers.”

Indirect characterization Chaucer is criticizing how the Pardoner directly indicts himself of avarice and deception, those being the exact things that he preaches against. In the act of curing others sins, he sacrifices his own being. He doesn’t look at it like that because he relishes the money he gets out of it.