The Canterbury Tales · Chapter
The Pardoner's Tale explained
The Pardoner, a corrupt church official, preaches a moral tale against greed and sin, using his own hypocrisy as a backdrop.
What happens
The Pardoner, a corrupt church official, preaches a moral tale against greed and sin, using his own hypocrisy as a backdrop. He tells of three young rioters who set out to find Death, only to be undone by their own avarice when they discover a treasure and betray one another, leading to their mutual destruction.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it shifts the focus from the external, ritualistic acts…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church
The Pardoner himself embodies this theme, preaching against greed while openly admitting his own avarice and deceit.
- Sin and Redemption
The tale illustrates the consequences of sin, particularly greed, and the lack of redemption for the rioters who die unrepentant.
Characters to notice
- The Pardoner
The narrator of the tale, a corrupt church official who preaches against greed while indulging in it himself.
- Our Host
The Host reacts to the Pardoner's tale and his attempt to sell relics, engaging in a tense exchange.
Key passages
“Radix malorum est Cupiditas”
The root of all evil is greed.
The Pardoner's repeated theme, used to justify his own avarice while preaching against it.
“And thus I preach against the very vice I make my living out of—avarice.”
I preach against the sin of greed, even though I profit from it.
The Pardoner's candid admission of his hypocrisy.
