The following is a summary of "The Pardoner's Tale":

 

Three young men, indulging in a life of revelry, hear a bell toll signaling a passing funeral. They discover that their friend has been slain by a mysterious figure named Death. Filled with anger and vengeance, they vow to find Death and kill him.

On their quest, they encounter an old man who tells them that they can find Death under a nearby tree.

To their surprise, they discover a large sum of gold coins instead of Death.

Immediately, greed takes hold of them, and they plan to transport the treasure under the cover of darkness to avoid arousing suspicion.

While one of the men goes into town to buy food and wine for their journey, the remaining two plot to kill him upon his return, so they won't have to share the gold. However, the man who goes into town plans to poison the wine so he can keep the gold for himself.

The two men left behind also plot to kill their companion by poisoning his wine.

In a twist of fate, all three men end up dead.

 

The story highlights the destructive power of greed and betrayal, as each man's desire for personal gain ultimately leads to his demise.

The tale serves as a cautionary story about the consequences of greed, betrayal, and the pursuit of wealth and as a moral allegory, warning against the dangers of avarice and the consequences of treachery..

 

The Pardoner concludes his tale by preaching against the very vices he embodies—greed and avarice. He uses his story to manipulate the pilgrims into making offerings to him in exchange for forgiveness of their sins, showcasing his hypocrisy and deceitful nature.

 

Through the characters' actions and their ultimate downfall, Chaucer critiques the moral corruption prevalent in society, particularly within the Church, making "The Pardoner's Tale" a powerful commentary on human folly and moral decay.

 

revelry = enjoying oneself in a noisy way, often while drinking

pardoner = venditore di indulgenze