Friar Accrues Money From Sinners In Order example essay topic

1,368 words
The Friar, in relation to his tale, possesses characteristics similar to the content of his account which he produces during a pilgrimage to Canterbury. As a man of the church, the Friar abuses his power by attempting to profit from the sins of others. The obligation ofthe Friar is to put into action the words of Christ; however, by misusing the authority granted to him, the Friar reveals his hypocrisy. A fine example of this man's pretense of virtue is concerned with chastity and sexuality. The Friar, however, does not completely disregard his moral values.

This member of religious order divulges the work of Christ by advising repentance in order to avoid damnation in Hell. The Friar, also known as Hubert, had a special license from the Pope, but decided to choose a path of corruption and greed. The responsibility of the Friar was to beg for money, or to raise funds for his community within a specific geographical area (Hallissy 137), and listen to the confessions of sinners. The Friar does attain his duty of accumulating money, but by finding and exploiting commercial opportunities (Bloom 113).

On the expedition to Canterbury with his fellow pilgrims, the Friar narrates a tale concerning a certain summoner. The task of summoners is to convene sinners for a trial in the presence of church leaders. In The Friar's Tale the summoner mistreats his authority. The Friar considers the summoner as a treacherous thief who knew so much of bribery and black mail and drew large profits to himself thereby. In The Friar's Tale the summoner quoted, Without extortion, how can I make a living. This is a worthy example of the power that the summoner abuses.

Without the intent of relating himselfwith the summoner in his tale, the Friar reflects similar traits thatthe summoner possesses. The Summoner abuses the prerogatives of his office for his own profit. But so does his critic the Friar (Hallissy 138). Friar Hubert makes great efforts of deceiving sinners. Straying away from his true obligation, the Friar accrues money from sinners in order to gain a personal profit.

Chaucer wrote, For many a fellow is so hard at heart he cannot weep, for all his inward smart therefore instead of weeping and of prayer, One should give silver for a poor friar scare. The Friar's abuse of power illustrates the characteristic of hypocrisy which he possesses. Instead of collecting money for his order, the Friar misleads those who have committed sin by provoking them to offer money. Chaucer describes this mendicant as the finest beggar ofhis batch. The Friar was indeed a fine beggar, but not for the appropriate objective. Chaucer quotes in describing this fraud, Anywhere a profit might accrue, courteous he was and lowly of service too.

This man of religious order was a genuine hypocrite. The Friar narrates a story about a summoner, who is also a hypocrite. Extorting money from sinners is not included in the summoner's task. Summoners are supposed to summon alleged evildoers to those courts (Hallissy 138). For example, in The Friar's Tale the summoner accuses a widow of performing sexual acts with a friar or priest. This officer of thechurch demands money from this poor, old dame.

If she refuses, the widow risks chances of excommunication. Enraged with such accusation, the old lady curses the summoner to hell. In this scenario the summoner receives his proper punishment as a result from his own greed. In comparison this tale the Friar neglects his office putting the money he extorted from sinners into his own pocket. The two of them are both hypocrites because both are skilful at wheedling money, and are only out for what they can get (Cooper 131). Avoiding the poor and cultivating the rich (Bloom 113), the Friar truly marks himself as a fraud, and as a hypocrite.

The Friar, an authentic hypocrite, ignores his vows of chastity and seeks for the gratification with other women. Contrary to the actual practice of a holy man, the Friar possesses a fondness for middle-class establishments, agreeable women and smooth talk (Cooper 131). Friars, asa clerical order, hold vows of poverty and humility, as well as the vows of chastity and obedience (Bloom 113) However Friar Hubert exposes himself to women. Chaucer wrote describing the Friar, Highly and intimate was he with Country Folk within his boundary, and city dames of honour and possessions.

In The Friar's Tale the summoner breaks his vows of chastity by relating with other women. Summoners hold a position in the church and are required to remain focused on their duty. On the contrary the summoner in The Friar's Tale overlooks this undeniable pledge. The Friar speaks about a hypocritical summoner who takes pleasure from the presence of women.

The Friar stated, He was a thief, a summoner, a pimp. The Friar's summoner had a network of acquaintances among medieval low-lives, bawds (pimps) and wenches (Hallissy 139). Without the objective of relating himself withthe summoner in his tale, the Friar similarly broke his vows of chastity. Chaucer wrote, He d fixed up many a marriage, giving each ofhis young women what he could afford her. The breaking of his chastity vows demonstrates the significant character which the Friar possesses. Although he deceives sinners in order to receive a personal gain and breaks the vows of humility and chastity, the Friar is not absolutely an immoral individual.

The Friar preaches about repentance inh is tale. In The Friar's Tale the summoner collaborates with the Devil in deceiving people. Despite the knowledge of the identity of his partner, the summoner continues to associate with the Devil. Thesummoner stated, Though you are Satan's self, the very Devil!

I keep my word of honour to a brother, as I have sworn, and so shall each toot her. An argument takes place in the situation where the summoner confronts an old widow. The innocent lady curses the summoner to Hell. The Devil suddenly shows his presence to the two individuals and willing to take the soul of the summoner unless repentance was offered. Thesummoner refused and as a result, he was damned in Hell, where summoners have their special shelf. Since the summoner refused torepent, his life on earth ceased.

The Friar urges others to repent for their sins in order to be saved from Hell. In The Friar's Tale thesummoner did not repent; therefore he damned himself (Hallissy 144). The Friar does remain faithful to Christ by encouraging others torepent. This action makes the Friar a moral individual in a particular manner, despite his actions of fraud and lack of humility. Damnation is not God's will for His creatures. The Friar reminds the audience that the pains of this cursed house of hell can be avoided by prayer and avoidance of temptation.

The Friar, inadequate of God's grace though he is, ends his tale with sound spiritual advice to the audience (Hallissy 144). In conclusion, the Friar, a man holding a particular office in thechurch, shares several similarities with the character of the summoner in his tale. Authorized to hear the confessions of sinners and to raise money for his order, the Friar abuses his power by misleading others. This action goes against the true obligation of friars.

As a result ofhis deceptions, the Friar is considered to be a hypocrite. He has pledged his commitment to the mission of Christ, but has misused his authority in order to get a personal benefit. The Friar also pledged to chastity; instead of fulfilling his vows of chastity, he exposes himselfwith prostitutes for pleasure and self gratification. However the Friar does advise those who have sinned to repent.

This moral suggestion presented by the Friar reveals some sort of righteousness within him. 349.