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Canterbury Tales Morality

Decent Essays

Are Medieval Morals and Religious Notions Still Valid Today?
The Bible, defined as a collection of sixty-six scriptures that compose the Old and New Testament. For a number of people, including catholics and religious officials, this holy script can be the final word between what is morally and religiously right and wrong. A biblical quotation, Radix malorum est cupiditas is Latin for avarice is the root of all evil. In the frame narrative, The Canterbury Tales, there is no limit to the use of religious and moral connections that the fictional characters present. The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner show their cupidinous for money through the prologues and tales. In the prologue told by the Wife of Bath, she uses the Bible to justify her actions to the other characters, as having multiple suitors is presented in the Bible. Her need to justify herself comes from the marriage of multiple wealthy decrepit men as each yielded an immense inheritance. This shows not only her justification of having remarried but her avidity for money. The Pardoner also references the Bible in his prologue to demonstrate his superiority when compared to the people he sells pardons and fake relics to as he admits his sin but takes the money of the guilt ridden people. The Pardoner’s main argument consists of simple yet intelligent logic, why would the people be buying the fraudulent items if they had not done anything for which they were necessary? His tale also references money, which leads to

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