Examining The Pardoner's Tale in The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is filled with subtle (and sometimes not-quite so subtle) criticisms of society, plays on words, and symbolic speech. In the Pardoner's tale, Chaucer uses many references to body parts and dismemberment: the Pardoner describes his utilization of jars full of bones and a sheep's collarbone as supposed relics; he mentions numerous times the ripping apart of Jesus Christ's bones and limbs for a second time with words through swearing. There is a very strong emphasis on the mouth, throat and tongue, in particular. The Pardoner uses them in relation to sinners, as well as remedies for ills. Chaucer's use of the mouth as a symbol of both the origin of sins and their cure puts emphasis on people's willingness to make and accept contradictions if they believe it will somehow benefit them.

Before beginning his tale, the Pardoner tells his fellow pilgrims about his preaching. He confesses that he fools all his listeners with fake relics and pretty Latin words. He says, "my honds and my tonge goon so yerne" - that his hands and tongue move quickly and fool his listeners (line 70). Less than 20 lines later, he again mentions his tongue, with which he stings his opponent sharply (85). He also spits out his venom under the pretense of holiness (93). Thus, the Pardoner uses his tongue as a weapon, and also as a tool to get the things that he wants - peoples' items and money. His own tongue is the implement and source of his sin. Using his tongue, he weaves tales about those sins of which he himself is guilty.