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The Pardoner
What he does for a living
he is a con artist; he offers indulgences or previously written pardons for particular sins committed
accepts donations "to the church" for indulgences from gullible people that believe their donations will save them a spot in heaven
sang to people so that they would give him money "for well he knew that when the song was sung he'd have to preach and tune his honey-tongue and win silver from the crowd" (731)
Character Description
deceitful man " anytime he found some poor-up country parson to astound, in one short day, in money down, he drew more than the parson in a month or two" (721)
he passed off worthless items as prized religious objects, getting money for them " in his trunk he had a pillow case which he asserted was our Lady's veil" etc. (714)
seemed to be a noble member of the church "made monkeys of the priest and congregation in his church he was a noble ecclesiast. How well he read a lesson or told a story!" (726)
sold pardons that had a forged pope's signature "brimful of pardons come from Rome, all hot." (707)
Either homosexual or a eunuch
Physical Appearance
had yellow hair that was stringy and long "as yellow as wax, hanging down smoothly like a hank of flax thinly they fell like rat-tails, one by one." (695)
had "bulging eyes, like a hare" (704)
had a shrill voice "had a small voice a goat has got" (708)
no facial hair "his chin no beard had harbored, nor would harbor, smoother than ever chin was left by barber" (710) this is indicative of his possible state of castration
Reason for Journey to Canterbury
He, as a member of the church, had to make a pilgrimage to a location of religious importance
He also could fool many people here into buying indulgences since it is a religious town there are probably many religious people who would fall for his lies
Unknown Words
Alighted: To come down and settle, as after flight: a sparrow alighting on a branch.
Hostelry: An inn; a hotel.
Scurrility: The quality of being vulgar, coarse, or abusive.
Gelding: A castrated animal, especially a male horse.
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