Descriptions of the Parson in the Canterbury Tales

" In keeping with the some former(a) narrations, the Parson promises a "myrie recital in prose" (Part X line 46) to the Hoste when a tale is requested of him near the end of the journey. Yet, his tale is not merely for entertainment, nor is it a sermon. It is a discourse on the examination of the cabbagescience, sin, and repentance (Fisher 345). According to Fisher, this is the type of treatise or preachment that "devout people read or had read to them to coiffe themselves for confession" (345). This is a much more serious "tale" than the others. In this discourse, the Parson discusses the nature of sin and penitence, or the real ruthful heart: "But nathelees men shal hope that any tyme that man falleth, be it never so ofte, that he may arise thurgh penitence if he have grace" (Part X lines 90-93). Therefore, Chaucer not only compares the Parson to Christ as iodine who teaches by example, but also as the confessor - the genius who go out hear the sins confessed and absolves the repentant sinner.

Further, Chaucer uses the Parson's tale to illustrate the life of the in truth devout Christian. For example, the Parson explains that there are three do for repentance. The first is when one is name into the Church for the remission of sins and repentant of the old life and willing to start new (Part X lines 95-97). The second is when they have sinned gravely after they have been baptized (Part X line 98). The third occasion is when one has committed a pardon

able " undersize" sin and needs to confess and repent of these sins (Part X line 99). The Parson recommends that the wise person would be one who: ?yeven his carcass al his herte to the service of Jesu Crist, and therof doon hym hommage" (Part X lines 314-15). This is the example of the life that an rarefied Christian would lead, and this is the type of example that Chaucer holds as the ideal for a priest within the Church. Yet, this is not the ideal that the other ecclesiastical members of the pilgrimage live up to.

The Monk's tale, rather than being one cohesive story, instead lists tales of biblical and ancient heroes.

It is interesting to logical argument that the Monk, though full of pride himself, sees it his duty to narrate the sad downfall of these heroes through pride and corruption. Although this is a type of training by example, the Monk does not bring these stories into the personal acres to discuss personal sins or repentance because that might be too close to home for him. The Monk sees himself as a grand person and these are grand tales that reflect his tallness as a distinguished man, not as the soft laborer envisioned by St. Augustine (Part I lines 187-8).

Where the Friar was concerned with creature comforts, the "General Prologue" describes the Pardoner as one who is trifling and very involved in the way he looks and appears to other people (Part I line 677). In fact, Chaucer even emasculates him as he compares him to a "gelding or a mare" (Part I line 692). This is another ecclesiast whose job it is to aid his parishioners on their earthly journey, yet like the Friar, he plays the part of the con artist and sells them fake religious relics for salvation through iniquity and persuasion (Part I, lines 703-4, 712-14).

The person described as the Monk in the "General Prologue" resembles a prideful, well-off landowner more than he does a man of the Church. He not only has a fine horse, but a stable full of horses (Part I lines 168-9) as well as hunting dogs, an
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