Andres Signoret Period 8 Dual Enrollment Assignment 11-23-14 Topic 4: Compare and Contrast the confessions found in the Pardoner's Prologue and the Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale The Canterbury Tales recalls the experience a man shared with 29 pilgrims throughout an expedition to the shrine of the martyr Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. During the journey, for the sake of making the trip all the more enjoyable, each pilgrim is required to tell a story during the voyage to the shrine and the one back as well. Throughout the novel, we learn more about each pilgrim and his or her personality through their respective confessions and stories. In fact, many of these pilgrims have personalities which intentionally contradict with others in the party. The confessions found in “The Pardoner’s Prologue” and “The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue and Tale” are a notable example of confessions which are quite similar, yet strikingly different. When selected …show more content…
First off, both prologues speak of deception, as the Pardoner, Canon, and Yeoman have all tricked people in the past for the sake of money. Also, both stories have moments where the main characters lie to others for their own personal gain. However, although the Pardoner only speaks for himself as he confesses, the Yeoman speaks of all who practice alchemy when renouncing it. Although both groups apologize for their actions, the only ones to have actually show legitimate regret for them are the Canon and Yeoman, as shown through the way the Canon hides in shame as the Yeoman begins to speak of their profession. This sense of regret is not at all present as the Pardoner confesses, instead having pride as he speaks of his methods. The lack of true regret in regards to the Pardoner and his actions is especially evident when he confesses that he’d rather take the last penny of a suffering family than give up his current