The Friar In Chaucer's Tales

The Friar is the least moral character in Chaucer’s tales. This man is no stranger about breaking the vow of poverty in the slightest, always getting the most money he could. “Of double-worsted was the semi-cope/Upon his shoulders” (Chaucer 270-271). This shows the Friar wears clothes that higher classes and people of wealth would wear, showing he did not mind breaking the vow to look nice. The Friar didn’t just dress like he had money either, “instead of weeping and of prayer/One should give silver for a poor Friar’s care” (Chaucer 235-236). This shows that he was always prepared to help, for a fee of course. This man was also not very familiar with the vow of obedience in these tales either it seems. “It was not fitting with the dignity/Of his position, dealing with a scum/Of wretched lepers” (Chaucer

The Friar is very close to women and showing them affection, breaking the vow of chastity. “He kept his tippet stuffed with pins for curls,/And pocket-knives, to give to pretty girls” (Chaucer 237-238). This shows that The Friar is always prepared to be sweet and give pretty girls gifts, showing his affection. Further proving this point, Chaucer says, “He’d fix up many a marriage, giving each/Of his young women what he could afford her” (Chaucer 216-217).This shows the Friar didn’t really care, he would just pay men to marry women off and be done with it. The Friar isn’t the best when it comes to the vow of stability, proving time and again He’s easy to break it. Usually, a good Friar would help people in search of God, but as Chaucer states, “He knew taverns well in every town/And every innkeeper and barmaid too/Better than lepers, beggars, and that crew” (Chaucer 244-246). This shows that The Friar isn’t hanging around the people he needs to be helping. The Friar is a greedy, uncaring, and boastful man that is a perfect candidate for the most immoral character in The Canterbury