In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer writes about a man full of sin, but he does so in a way that is both humorous and ironic. The tale is known as exemplum, which further helps convey the important message of the tale. The pardoner is a man who scams people and uses their faith against them, telling them that if they don't give him money, they won't go to Heaven. In the end, the Forgiver will preach whatever he needs as long as he profits from it. This man begins by speaking out against all those who partake in drinking, blasphemy, and gambling, but later admits that he has committed these sins himself. This is funny to the reader because he blatantly presents himself as a hypocrite and people continue to give to him. Chaucer subtly comments on the corruption of the church and does so in a playful manner. Many people love to advise others on how to live their lives, but they don't have the concepts they preach themselves. The main idea of ​​the story is “Radix malorum est cupiditas” or “Greed is the root of all evil.” The Pardoner preaches against greed but the literal purpose of his sermon is to make money by exploiting the people of the Church, as well as the Church itself, making the tale very entertaining for those who read it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Pardoner's Tale is about sin as well as corruption. The story appears to have been written to directly undermine the people of the Church. The pardoner is an official of the Church, which makes him very important, but obviously he works for the Church only for financial gain. In the Prologue of the story the Forgiver brazenly reveals his greed: "But let me briefly clarify my purpose, I preach only out of greed for gain." The Pardoner leads a sinister life and is consumed by cupiditas. He doesn't care about those he preaches to, he only cares about the money he will receive after his false sermons. A Pardoner should care about the well-being of those who listen to his sermons and give him money, but he doesn't care who the money might come from, he simply only cares that he receives that money. The corruption of the Church is emphasized throughout the tale, as is the entire story when intertwined with the mention of concepts such as swearing, gambling, drunkenness, and gluttony. The Forgiver explains what God would not condemn, even though they are all traits he possesses or activities in which he participates. The Pardoner does whatever it takes to get money from his listeners, including lying. The pardoner tricks people into kissing the “relics” of the church, which are in fact not authentic. The Pardoner's greed had no limits because he was aware of the control he had over these people because of their commitment to their God. Keep in mind: this is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although written a long time ago, the overall message is still relevant today. The Pardoner not only tells its own story, but is also about three men who lost their lives to greed, further allowing the reader to understand what greed can do to someone. The theme of greed in The Pardoner's Tale describes the consequences of greed in people and society; then and now. Works CitedChaucer, G. (2005). The Canterbury Tales. Oxford University Press.Carruthers, M. (2008). The Book of Memory: A Study of Memory in Medieval Culture. Cambridge University Press.Fisher, J. H. (2002). The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale: York Notes Advanced. Pearson Education.Hahn, T. (2016). "Killing the monster: the deceiver-indulgent in the tales of.