Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Essay -- Chaucer Canterbury Tales Essay

Chaucers The Canterbury TalesIn The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and describes a lack of godliness in medieval society yet in the recantation, Chaucer recants much of his be given and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the retraction and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does non weaken Chaucers social commentary. Rather, the retraction emphasizes Chaucers criticism of the Church and society in The Canterbury Tales by reinforcing the risk intact in doing so. In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer portrays the Roman Catholic Church as an universe in which corruption runs rampant. Chaucer attacks almost all of the pilgrims who are officials of the Church. For example, in The oecumenical Prologue, the Prioress is so charitable and so pitous that she feeds her lapdogs With rosted flessh, or milk and wastelbreed ( 143, 147). However, considering the wiped out(p) condition of many people during the Middle Ages, would it not be to a greater extent(prenominal) charitable for the Prioress to give meat, milk and bread to the poor, instead of to her dogs? Furthermore, the friar breaks the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity and service. Instead of helping lepers and beggars, the mendicant knew knows the tavernes wel in all t consume, / And every(prenominal) hostiler and tappestere (GP 241-2). The Friar is also wealthy from the profits of bribed confessions he dresses not like a poor Franciscan should, but lik a maister or a pope (GP 263). The Pardoner also admits and even boasts about his declare hypocritical morals. He explains that the relics he sells are fake, along with the absolutions he gi... ... the heading of corruption within the Church the personal interests of the Wife of Bath, the Franklin, and even the serjeant-at-law at Law reflect the effects of the Church in society. The terrible contrast between the devout s nuances throw of the abjuration and the critical tone of The Canterbury Tales highlight Chaucers commentary on the corruption of the Church. The Retraction reminds the subscriber of the severe consequences of opposing the Church during the Middle Ages. Chaucers profession of faith, which appears so out of context in comparison to many aspects of The Canterbury Tales, actually reinforces the study of corruption within the Roman Catholic Church and within society. Separately, the Retraction and The Canterbury Tales give contrasting views of medieval life together, they create a coordinated account of individual imethical motive caused by corruption of the Church. Chaucers The Canterbury Tales see -- Chaucer Canterbury Tales EssayChaucers The Canterbury TalesIn The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and descr ibes a lack of morality in medieval society yet in the Retraction, Chaucer recants much of his bend and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the Retraction and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does not weaken Chaucers social commentary. Rather, the Retraction emphasizes Chaucers criticism of the Church and society in The Canterbury Tales by reinforcing the risk indwelling in doing so. In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer portrays the Roman Catholic Church as an existence in which corruption runs rampant. Chaucer attacks almost all of the pilgrims who are officials of the Church. For example, in The customary Prologue, the Prioress is so charitable and so pitous that she feeds her lapdogs With rosted flessh, or milk and wastelbreed (143, 147). However, considering the impoverished condition of many people during the Middle Ages, would it not be more charitable for the Prioress to give meat, milk and bread to the poor, instead of to her dogs? Furthermore, the Friar breaks the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity and service. Instead of helping lepers and beggars, the Friar knew knows the tavernes wel in every town, / And every hostiler and tappestere (GP 241-2). The Friar is also wealthy from the profits of bribed confessions he dresses not like a poor Franciscan should, but lik a maister or a pope (GP 263). The Pardoner also admits and even boasts about his own hypocritical morals. He explains that the relics he sells are fake, along with the absolutions he gi... ... the carriage of corruption within the Church the personal interests of the Wife of Bath, the Franklin, and even the serjeant at Law reflect the effects of the Church in society. The strict contrast between the devout tone of the Retraction and the critical tone of The Canterbury Tales highlight Chaucers commentary on the corruption of the Church. The Retraction reminds the lector of the severe consequences of opposing the Church during the M iddle Ages. Chaucers profession of faith, which appears so out of context in comparison to many aspects of The Canterbury Tales, actually reinforces the account of corruption within the Roman Catholic Church and within society. Separately, the Retraction and The Canterbury Tales give contrasting views of medieval life together, they create a unified account of individual immorality caused by corruption of the Church.