Good vs. Evil in The Friars Tale :: essays research papers fc

Society has always judged a person on his take aim of morality. This level of judgment has been evident since the immoral acts of Adam and Eve were committed. Some of these acts argon dishonesty, adultery, and ignorance. The Friars Tale makes these moral issues clear through mingled characters. The summoner and the Devil both show dishonesty, abuse of power, and mercilessness. In this short story, Chaucer illustrates the news report of sliminess and how it affects the character of all the persons in the tale..Characters display dishonesty in The Friars Tale. The summoner steals the money that he collects from peasants. Chaucer illustrates this act of immorality when he says, Now trulyso do I. I neer sp ar to take a thing, knows God, unless it be too heavy or too hot. What I get for myself, and privately, no kind of conscience for much(prenominal) things have I. (170-174). The summoner is being dishonest to the people that he collects from by not telling him that he keeps the m oney. The summoner admits to the Devil that he steals. The summoner also says that he has no conscience. Therefore he can not be unbroken from evil. (Gray 115)Bowden addresses the summoners immorality when he states, Fact and fiction both sentence him as especially licentious and dishonest. He also mentions how Gower writes of him as simulation to be poor but, in actuality, as being as abstruse as a king (Bowden 55). Stealing is immoral, and Bowden reinforces that the summoner is immoral and steals beyond need. He is also being dishonest to his Archdeacon by not giving him the collections. The agitate persuade the summoner into committing immoral acts. He makes the summoner believe that he himself is a bandit as well. We see this happen when the devil says, My wages are duty scanty, and but small. My lord is harsh to me and niggardly, my job is most laborious, you see and and so by extortion do I live (162-165).Hallissy agrees when he states, When Geoffrey comments that the friar likes the familiarity of such people better than that of lepers and beggarssuch worldly values are inappropriate in a follower of Christ. (Hallissy 33). By respite out with those of higher status, the friar proves that he is not carrying out his vows. Hallissy suggests that the summoner, who should be a model for the community, is immoral.