How Does Chaucer Present The Church In The Canterbury Tales

In Canterbury Tales Chaucer presents the Church in a negative light in order to call attention to its corrupt practices. Examples of this can be seen through his depictions of the different clergymen present in the work. He harshly criticizes people such as the Monk, the Friar, the Summoner, and the Pardoner, suggesting that he was unhappy with their use of authority. One of the first corrupt church officials Chaucer mentions is the Monk. The Monk is described in the prologue as a fat man who ignores monastic rule in order to live modernly. He felt that the rules and traditions of the order “ were old and rather strict,”( Chaucer ln 174) and that the monastery should “ let old things pass away/ So that modern world might have its day.” (ln 174-76). This ideology leads the Monk to live a life of ease and comfort instead of a life of prayer. He eats the best food, wears the best clothes, and he spends his time hunting with his Greyhounds for which “ no cost he would spare.”( ln 192).

The prologue describes the Friar as an immoral man who did not live according to the rule of St. Francis. The Friar’s only job is to beg for the poor. Although he is the best beggar in his order, he accomplishes this through immoral means. He makes deals with landowners “ for his exclusive right:/ No brethren might invade his begging site” ( ln 252a-252b) . To make even more money, the Friar gives lighter penances when he knows that “Some nice gift he'd receive when he was through.”(ln 224). He justifies this by saying “ it is a sign a man is truly shriven.” ( ln 226 ) if he donates to the order. With all the money that he makes he is able to dress in nice clothes and surround himself with the rich rather “ Than dealing with those sick with leprosy.” ( ln