Who is described as the despicable character in "The Prologue"?
AThe wife of Bath
BThe knight
CThe Pardoner
DThe Clerk
Answer:
C. The Pardoner
Read Explanation:
The Pardoner in Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales*
- The Pardoner is one of the pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral in Geoffrey Chaucer's famous work, *The Canterbury Tales*.
- His tale and his description in the General Prologue are often cited as prime examples of Chaucer's masterful characterization and his keen eye for the hypocrisies of the medieval church.
- Despicable Traits: The Pardoner is depicted as a deeply corrupt and morally bankrupt individual. His primary sin is greed, specifically his practice of selling fake religious relics and granting false pardons for money.
- He openly admits to prioritizing personal profit over the spiritual well-being of the people he preys upon.
- Chaucer's narrator describes him as having a