The theme of orderin the"General Prologue" and the "Pardoner's Prologue and Tale"in the "Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer
...others say about the Pardoner, it is clear that we have a hint of what he really thinks of him by the words …"And thus, with feined flaterye and japes, He made the person and the peple his apes. But trewely to tellen at the laste, He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste."… (lines 707-710 GP) The Pardoner deliberately taught himself the art of preaching as he states in his own Prologue: …"I paine me to han an hautein speeche, And ringe it out as round as gooth a belle, For I can al by rote that I telle."… (lines 42-44 P) He mentions he uses Latin to impress simple folk and, in fact, he is completely frank about his intentions and says …"For myn entente is nat but for to winne, And no thing for correccioun of sinne."… (lines 115-116 P) But most important is the order in his pursuit of his own pleasure and happiness regardless of who he has to hurt to achieve it. In fact, he is the perfect hedonist. He practices the very sin which is his main theme …"Radix malorum est Cupiditas."… (line 138). His tale of the three young rascals is an example of avarice, gluttony, drunkenness, gambling and swearing, and he warns his audience not to be tempted. As for himself he asks …"What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche, And winne gold and silver for I teche, That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully?"… (lines 151-153 P) And he continues without shame that even if the children of a widow died of hunger, he had to have …"moneye, wolle, cheese, and whete"… (line 160 P). He ends by confessing quite openly …"For though myself be a ful vicious man, A moral tale yit I you telle can, Which I am wont to preche for to winne."… (lines 171-173 P) It is obvious that everything is deliberate and planned out. He finally meets with only a moment of embarrassment and disorder but that is certainly brief. After moralizing for a while he reaches the height of insolence when he offers the false relic...