Essay on Satire in Canterbury Tales - 1020 Words

The aim of any true satirical work is to poke fun at a certain aspect of society, while also inspiring reform to that very same aspect in one way or another. In Chaucers Canterbury Tales, Chaucer satirizes the Medieval Church and those associated with the church. Medieval society was centered largely around the Church. Ideally, the people were expected to understand that earthly possessions were meaningless when compared to the prospect of closeness with God. Man was expected to work until he died, at which time he would receive eternal salvation. This eternal salvation was achieved by obeying Gods commandments. This theory, however, was becoming progressively corrupted as hypocrisy began to pollute the Church, particularly at the higher†¦show more content†¦Chaucer makes it quite clear to the reader that these men boast about the high morals of the Church, and then proceed to live in stark contrast to nearly every one of these morals. One example is how the Church preaches a solemn vow of chastity. Nevertheless, Chaucer tells of how the Friar had fixed up many a marriage, giving each/ Of his young women what he could afford her. Therefore, the Friar would find husbands for the women that he had previously seduced but then lost interest in. Another aspect of the Church that these holy-men prove inconsistent is the vow of simple living. The Monk lives a rather lavish lifestyle, as Chaucer tells, The Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur/ As old and strict he tended to ignore;/ He let go by the things of yesterday/ And took the modern worlds more spacious way. The monk enjoyed the comforts of good living, with fur-lined clothing, a fine horse, and first class meals. Likewise, the Friar enjoyed fine clothing, as Chaucer says, Not then appearing as your cloistered scholar/ With threadbare habit hardly worth a dollar,/ But much more like a Doctor or a Pope. These elegant lifestyles are clearly in opposition to the teachings of the Church on simplistic living. Finally, the Pardoner preaches on behalf of the Church against greed and avarice, however he is very greedy himself. In his tale, the Pardoner tells an excellent tale denouncing greed and showing how greed leads to a persons downfall, yet theShow MoreRelatedCanterbury Tales Satire Analysis866 Words   |  4 PagesChaucer’s use of Satire in Canterbury Tales Directed Towards Church Hypocrisy, Class Nobility, and the Patriarchy) All well known, articulate speakers and writers throughout history use critical speaking techniques to rally support from those around them. One such tool is the use of satire in public speaking or writing. Satire is the combination of a poignant message along with sarcasm. 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