Canterbury tales - the church

Critical Analysis Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, not only creates many varying themes throughout each tales he writes, but also through each contrasting pilgrim on the trip. Through the Parson and the Pardoner especially, Chaucer reveals the changes that the church has gone through. He shows this through each character’s personality and the tale each tells. Chaucer also brings forth the general theme of the clerics of the time. Chaucer includes each …

…and, therefore, obtain poor reputations among the people. Although both the parson and the Pardoner hold positions in the church, the two vary directly. Chaucer included the contrasting the pure Parson and the evil Pardoner mainly to reveal the difference between the old church and what the church has become. As the Pardoner models its growing hypocrisy, the Parson shows its past purity and brings forth Chaucer’s hope for the future of the church.