The Catholic Church emphasises support for the sick, the poor, and the afflicted through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It practices the Christian faith and proclaims itself as the church that stands for the meek. On that basis, Hubert the Friar should live in poverty and with humility for the benefit of the lay people. He should represent them to the best of his ability and work on their behalf. In reality, this is not the case. Chaucer criticizes the church by revealing the Friar’s intentions to forsake the poor for his own desires. Typically, friars, such as St. Francis of Assisi, work among the common people and are supported by donations. St. Francis abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after hearing the voice of God commanding him to live in poverty. …show more content…
It is unfathomable enough to think that a friar could so easily sell his forgiveness in exchange for indulgences, yet we see the Friar associating “only with the rich and the victual-sellers / But anywhere a profit might accrue” (Chaucer 246-247). The Friar’s connections with wealthy landowners, barmaids, noblewomen, and tavern owners are representative of his belief that people are valued by their wealth; he knows the rich better than he knows his own people. It is even more remarkable that he went on to become “the finest beggar of his batch” (250) so much so that “his brethren did no poaching where he went” (252). Through contradictory and ironic descriptions, Chaucer discusses how radically different these two truths are and exemplifies the unethical conduct of the