Question

Who is described as the despicable character in "The Prologue"?

• A. The wife of Bath
• B. The knight
• C. The Pardoner
• D. The Clerk

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The Pardoner

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