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Corruption In The Canterbury Tales

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Destruction can come in the form of corruption as can be seen by literary in the medieval period. A good work to look at is Geofrey Chaucer's story, The Canterbury Tales as it relates corruption to people. In the most lively moments, Chaucer's story relays to the reader how many can be different than what they seem. These lies can also end up destroying a kingdom. Many would take deliberate steps to fool anyone who gaze upon them, and in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales it is seen that there were precedents that were set in place to make the situation of the story seem important as it "was soon one with them in fellowship, / Pledged to rise early and to take the way"(Chaucer l.32-33. 115). Rising early shows discipline, shows that one will take …show more content…

While lust isn't clear during the beginning of the story there is clear signs of manipulation and pridefulness that can jeopardize a large amount of reliance for Sir Gawain. This all starts what the Green knight arrives at King Arthur's castle and challenges Sir Gawain. This is all to prove that Sir Gawain is actually brave. (Poet). Pride can get the better of everyone, and when it comes to an emperor who becomes to prideful; well it could end up with his empire being destroyed by those who were able to take take down the prideful ruler. Not only that, but in addition to pride, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows what trouble lust can cause when "the lady of the castle tries to seduce Gawain. Determined not to deceive his host or violate the agreement, Gawain accepts only two kisses"(Poet 183). While sir Gawain is truthful in his approach it does not mean that he has won the battle. Since when it comes to what women want, many always want what the highest bidder can give them even if they must do ungodly tasks just to receive such material objects. In Poet's story this even goes as far as "the third day, the lady tries persuade Gawain to accept a gift and to keep from her husband."(Poet 183). In the end people corrupt people to the point of never turning back. This causes complications in an empire since the people won't ever know who is truthful. Corruption can lead to riots against those who have

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The main theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the journey to maturity of Gawain, the hero. During the passage, Gawain goes through three tests on his development. First, Gawain shows courage and resourcefulness when he volunteers to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur doing so. Second, Gawain shows authority, self-restraint, and integrity when he denies the sexual endeavours of the lady of the house. Lastly, Gawain shows bravery when he faces death by keeping his meeting with the Green

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A young french electronic music duo in the early twentieth-century, Daft Punk,wrote a song in 1997, a song with three words repeated 144 times; “Around the World.” This song uses Ancient Aztec Mythology as a metaphor to outline how some of us are too busy worrying about death to enjoy life. Similar to how members of Daft Punk keep their identity unknown, the identity of the author, who wrote the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is unknown. Like most people in modern society, Sir Gawain spent too much time worrying about his death, and did not enjoy his life after his meeting with the Green Knight. The fearless knight stood up and took on the challenge the Green Knight had given him, and a year later he was ready to face his demise, instead

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Many other knights would run but Gawain understands that he has to have courage and must be honest about going to meet the green knight and fulfill his deal. One other virtue of chivalry that Gawain presents is courtesy. Gawain shows courtesy to the ladies of the castle. The pearl poet creates this scene: “His acquaintance they requested, and

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After the Green Knight exposes himself to Gawain as Lord Bertilak, he explains how he sent his wife to go into Gawain’s room while he was out and seduce and try to sleep with him. Gawain, after learning about all of this, begins to go into a type of “anti-female” speech with an expression of anger. Here Gawain

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Gawain is courteous to no end, even asking for permission to “abandon [his] bench and stand by [Arthur]” (Pearl Poet l. 344) so he may risk his own life instead of his kings to abide by the Green Knights game. He even humbly states that he “[is] the weakest” (l. 354) and that it would be the least lost of he was to parish which is untrue. Gawain is also extremely courteous when he is denying the wife’s attempts to seduce him saying he is “a knight unworthy” (l.1245). He plays a game of wits as he must not offend her advances but at the same time must not let the wife win the “game” because then he would have to lay with her and that would be uncourteous to his host, Lord Bertilak. The only time Gawain faults in his courteousness is when he refuses to acknowledge the agreement he made with Lord Bertilak which was “whatever [Lord Bertilak] win[s] in the wood shall at once be [Gawain’s] and whatever gain [Gawain] may get [he] shall give in exchange” (ll. 1107-08).

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Sir Gawain and the Green depicts this importance of faith by testing Gawain’s moral and knightly code. Gawain is the epitome of what a knight ought to be, with a strong moral code and an unquestioning faith, which he proudly displays on his shield with the Virgin Mary painted on the inside and the Pentangle on the outside. This faith is soon meet with a test the castle of the lord and his once strong faith in God falters. While Gawain is able to remain innocent when it comes to the seductive ways of the lord’s wife, he is unable to stop himself from accepting her magical girdle that would protect him against any harm, even though it is in opposition to both his faith and his loyalties. Gawain comprises his morals due to fear about his impending encounter with the Green Knight and he give into his fear and takes the magical protection the girdle offers.

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First, Bertilak’s wife coerces Gawain to abide by courtly love in a conversation where she argues, “‘He’d never stayed so long with a lady and left her unkissed: courtesy cries out Against him! Surely some sly word was missing. ’’Your pleasure is my command, Lady: I kiss as you wish, as a good knight Must. Ask me only once.’” (Line 1299-1304) which is ironic

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In the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer utilizes the immoral character of the Pardoner to tell the utmost moral tale through satirical devices, presenting the true greed and hypocrisy that runs throughout the Church, regardless of it attempt to cover it. Chaucer introduces the hypocrisy within the Church through the characterization of the Pardoner, as he is explained to be a man with, “flattery and equal japes./He made the parson and the rest his apes” (“General Prologue” 607-608). “Japes” are tricks, alluding to the Pardoner’s relics, as they are fake; yet, the Pardoner still sells these relics to the Church members as genuine treasures. This creates dramatic irony, because the character of the Church body is unaware of the situation bestowed

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If any man would meet me, make it now”(Gardner, 231), Gawain showed honor by showing up a year later even though he knew his fate. This shows true bravery and is the knightly thing to do in this time period. This trait could be known as chivalry which the hero of any romance must maintain. For example, Gawain writes “He accepts kisses and true to his bargain returns them to his host” (Gardner, 229), this shows that Gawain is honest and reliable. This is another aspect of Chivalry which furthermore proves that Gawain is a romantic hero in the story; his receiving of the kisses and not pursuing the wife shows his good intentions and non lust driven mind.

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In “The Canterbury Tales” Chaucer illustrates the corruption of the church through the religious characters in both the tales and the prologue and their obsession with money. Illustrating the fact that medieval England, the church had a big impact on the lives of people due to them being able to “read” the bible. In many cases, this was uses to manipulate people into giving their money to church. Throughout the tales, people are shown to stand up to the church and beat them at their own game and this provides the ideal response to church corruption.

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