The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer can be seen as an outstanding example of a jape. The shrewd Pardoner thinks he is able to play a game of confidence with the other pilgrims. According to the Middle English Dictionary, the noun “japerie” can also contain the meaning of irony, which is also true for the Prologue and the Tale. At the heart of the definition of irony lies incongruity or contradiction. The Oxford English Dictionary defines irony as:
firstly, “[a] figure of speech in which the intended meaning is the opposite of that expressed by the words used; …. [secondly a] condition of affairs or events of a character opposite to what was, or might naturally be, expected; a contradictory outcome of events as if in mockery of the promise and fitness of things (87).
The Pardoner’s Prologue and the Pardoner’s Tale provide many facets illustrating ironic contradiction. Particularly interesting is to analyze the Pardoner himself, as he is definitely contradictory in his behaviour as well as in his statements. An analysis of the Pardoner’s presentation in his Prologue reveals the contradictions and the irony in the exemplum he chooses for his tale. The exemplum’s characters and actions not only mirror the ambiguous and complex character of the Pardoner, but also contain several instances of irony. Based on that, one can see how the Pardoner’s leitmotif, “Radix malorum est Cupiditas” (l. 334) unifies the ironic contradictions of the Prologue and of the Tale.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Ironic Contradictions in the Pardoner's Prologue and the Pardoner's Tale
- The Pardoner's Character and His Sermon
- The Pardoner's Exemplum and the Sin of Avarice
- The Theme of Greed and the Irony of Death
- The Host's Counter-Joke and the Pardoner's Defeat
- The Pardoner's Connection to the Exemplum's Characters
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this analysis is to examine the ironic contradictions present in The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer. The text presents a complex and multi-layered examination of greed and its consequences, through the lens of the Pardoner's own hypocritical character.
- The Pardoner's hypocrisy
- The theme of avarice and its destructive nature
- The role of irony and contradiction in the narrative
- The use of exemplum to illustrate moral dilemmas
- The complex relationship between the Pardoner and the Host
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The Pardoner's Character and His Sermon: This chapter focuses on the contradictions inherent in the Pardoner's character. It examines his hypocrisy and his use of religious authority to deceive and exploit people for personal gain. The analysis reveals how his preaching methods contradict his own actions and demonstrate his greed.
- The Pardoner's Exemplum and the Sin of Avarice: This section analyzes the Pardoner's exemplum, a story about three rioters who seek out Death and ultimately fall victim to their own greed. The chapter explores the irony of the Pardoner using the story to preach against avarice, while simultaneously revealing his own inherent greed and moral failings.
- The Theme of Greed and the Irony of Death: This chapter delves into the theme of greed and its devastating consequences, as exemplified by the fate of the three rioters. The analysis explores the irony of their pursuit of Death and their ultimate demise due to their own avarice.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts central to the analysis include: irony, contradiction, avarice, hypocrisy, exemplum, Pardoner's Prologue, Pardoner's Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer, Radix malorum est Cupiditas, and the Host.
- Quote paper
- Julia Geigenberger (Author), 2007, Ironic Contradictions in the 'Pardoner’s Prologue' and the 'Pardoner’s Tale', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87772
