The Pardoner’s Tale provides a moral story told by a corrupt and greedy Pardoner. His tale sends the message that greed is the root of all evil, and that it would only bring death upon anyone who is guilty of that sin. However, the Pardoner tells the pilgrims that he only preaches for his own gain, and that he would take money from anybody. Although his story is morally sound, the Pardoner’s immoral views and tactics of earning money deny any possibility of the tale sending a moral message. The Pardoner’s Tale cannot send a moral message, as the Pardoner himself is guilty of being corrupt and greedy.
The Pardoner preaches about the evils of avarice, yet he himself partakes in the sin. His greed shows no bounds, as the Pardoner said, “I …show more content…
While speaking about his immoral preaching practices, the Pardoner mentions, “That trick's been worth a hundred marks a year since I became a Pardoner, never fear. Then, priestlike in my pulpit, with a frown, I stand, and when the yokels have sat down, I preach, as you have heard me say before, and tell a hundred lying mockeries more.” The Pardoner is saying how his relics are really just fake novelty items that he makes people buy so that he gains more money. He is lying to the people he preaches to in order to gain more money, which is completely immoral. However, after he tells his tale, the Pardoner preaches, “Dearly beloved, God forgive your sin and keep you from the vice of avarice! My holy pardon frees you all of this, provided that you make the right approaches, that is with sterling, rings, or silver brooches.” After telling the other pilgrims that the only purpose of his relics is for his own gain, he goes back on his statement and says that his relics are the only way to prevent them from being greedy. This is extremely hypocritical, as he tells the others that the relics are fake, yet he still preaches to them that the relics are the only way to save their souls. The Pardoner’s immoral tricks and tactics in order to become richer are hypocritical and contradict any moral message that he tries to send in his