The Old Man from The Pardoner's Tale: Symbolism and Significance

The Old Man from "The Pardoner's Tale": Symbolism and Significance

Diving into Chaucer's "The Pardoner's Tale," you can't help but notice the old man. He doesn't stick around for long, but boy, does he matter. This essay is all about figuring out what this old guy is really about. We’ll look at his role in the tale and see what deeper meanings and themes Chaucer was getting at. The old man? Well, he stands for death that’s gonna catch up with everyone eventually. He also serves as a moral compass, warning us about how greed can wreck everything if we let it.

The Inevitability of Death

First off, the old man in the story is kinda like a walking reminder that death is coming for us all. He’s described as “a povre wyght,” which means he's poor and frail (line 685). Dude's obviously not got much time left. Plus, where do the characters bump into him? A graveyard—a not-so-subtle nod to death.

When the rioters ask why he's still kicking, he says, "Nay, gentil sires, God woot, I have no weye" (line 705). Basically saying he's alive because he's gotta be until it's his time to go. His attitude toward death? Acceptance. It reflects a bigger theme in the tale about mortality that Chaucer wanted to highlight.

This old man's all about showing how fleeting life is—doesn't matter if you're rich or powerful. So yeah, meeting him reminds us all that death is unavoidable.

A Moral Guide

Beyond just representing death, the old man acts like a bit of a guide for the rioters when they meet him. They seem to think he knows something worth listening to. One of them even asks him for advice: "Tel us som wit, and it shal been don" (line 702). They think he's wise.

The old man's answer directs them towards a tree where he hints they'll find what they seek: "that ye seye, soothly for to sayn / Ye shul been quit" (lines 709-710). Spoiler alert—it’s treasure under there! But things don’t end well for those guys—it’s a setup to teach them (and us) that greed can lead to downfall.

His words suggest there's more going on than meets the eye—he knows chasing wealth isn’t gonna end well for them. Chaucer uses him as a voice against greed and nudges us toward seeking something more meaningful in life.

The Destructive Nature of Greed

Greed is pretty much front and center in "The Pardoner's Tale." Those three guys looking to take down Death are really just after riches. The old man? He's like an embodiment of what greed will get ya—trouble.

They grill him on why he's still hanging around when he's so ancient. His answer hints at losses he faced due to others' greedy actions: "I seyde, 'I hadde a love, and she was trewe…'" (lines 714-716). Losses caused by greed hurt deeply.

Meeting him at a graveyard only hammers home how destructive greed can be—they’re literally confronted with their mortality while chasing after wealth!

Conclusion

The old guy in "The Pardoner's Tale"? He’s not just some random character—he symbolizes unavoidable death and gives moral lessons on top of showcasing how bad greed can get you. Through his words and actions within this story-world crafted by Chaucer himself lies deeper meanings waiting beneath layers upon layers—like peeling onions back slowly without tears falling down cheeks aplenty yet poignant nonetheless! His wisdom reminds readers of life's shortness & fragility while serving cautionary tales against letting material desires dictate lives led astray without redemption sought earnestly thereafter indeed folks!

References

• Chaucer, Geoffrey. "The Pardoner's Tale." The Canterbury Tales. Ed. Jill Mann. Penguin Books, 2005.
• Benson, Larry D., ed. The Riverside Chaucer. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987.
• Lumiansky, R.M., ed. A Reading of Canterbury Tales. University of Chicago Press, 1955.
• Kolve V.A., Olson G., eds. The Canterbury Tales: Fifteenth-Century Continuations And Additions. University of Exeter Press.,1991.
• Pearsall Derek.An Annotated Critical Bibliography Of The Canterbury Tales .Ams Pr Inc; Illustrated edition(December1 ,1976 ) li >