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Examples Of Satire In The Canterbury Tales

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In the Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer, satire is shown in many characters throughout the poem. The Friar, Monk, and Pardoner may seem like normal, and worthy people, but their true colors will show. Satire brings out the true characteristics of each character. The Frair, Monk, and Pardoner all have something in common. They are all suppose to be holy religious figures. In the Canterbury Tales the Frair is expected to be a religious figure, the Monk is suppose to be poor, and the Pardoner is supposed to be honest, however Chaucer showcases their true identities throughout the poem. The Frair who is typically a religious figure, is actually a fraud in the poem. A Frair is suppose to be a festive man who enjoys …show more content…

This is because he uses fake religious relics, that he makes out of pig bones and sells them. That “ any time he found/some poor-up country parson to astound,/in one short day money down, he drew/ more than a parson in a month or two”(721-724). He deceives people who are poor, telling them they were buying such a holy piece when they are not. He is very selfish and does not care about others feelings. He also does not take confessions seriously, and just thinks about his own benefits. He does not set a good example for humanity for he “Made monkeys of the priest of congregation”(726). Chaucer uses satire very much in the Pardoners character because he is not being the religious figure whom he was expected to portray in the poem.The Pardoner is a fraud and a liar, when he is suppose to be a honest person of God. In the Canterbury Tales, the Frair, Monk and Pardoner are all given satire to give strong messages and deep characteristics. The Frair is suppose to be helping others and relieving sins, but he is a fraud. The Monk is suppose to be living a life of charity, but he is living a life of wealth. The Pardoner is suppose to showing others Gods grace, but he is a liar. In the Canterbury Tales the Frair, Monk, and Pardoner are all given religious roles with characteristics that are not very

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