Why Does the Pardoner Admit His Own Hypocrisy?
There's a moment in The Canterbury Tales that still surprises readers after six centuries. Even so, a man stands before a group of pilgrims and essentially says: "Everything I do is a lie. Day to day, i sell fake relics. I preach sermons I don't believe. I care only about money." And then — here's the strange part — he goes right on doing it anyway.
That's the Pardoner. And his self-awareness is what makes him one of the most fascinating characters in all of English literature.
Most fraudsters, when exposed, at least pretend to be innocent. They maintain the act. The Pardoner does something different. He openly admits his deception, almost boasts about it, and then... This leads to keeps right on selling his wares. Still, it's confounding. It's darkly funny. And it's one of the reasons Chaucer created a character who still feels startlingly modern.
So why does he do it? Why would anyone voluntarily confess to being a fraud — and then continue the fraud?
What Is the Pardoner's Hypocrisy, Exactly?
Before we get to why he admits it, let's talk about what exactly the Pardoner is confessing to Which is the point..
The Pardoner was a church official — or at least, he claimed to be. In Chaucer's time, this was a real (and controversial) practice. That's why his job, in theory, was to sell indulgences, which were documents that supposedly reduced the time a person's soul would spend in purgatory. The Pardoner takes it to an extreme: he sells what are essentially fake relics, bits of bone or cloth he claims are holy, and he delivers sermons designed not to save souls but to empty pockets.
Here's the key passage from his Prologue. He literally tells the other pilgrims:
"I preach no sermon but for greed of gain,
And for to make people give me their money."
He admits he doesn't believe a word of his own sermons. He admits his relics are worthless. He admits his entire profession is a con — and he does this before he tells his tale, almost as if he's clearing the air before performing.
It's a stunning moment. Still, the man is essentially saying: "I'm a fraud. Even so, you all know I'm a fraud. Now let me tell you a story anyway Turns out it matters..
Why Does He Admit It? Several Possible Reasons
Here's where it gets interesting, because there's no single clear answer. The text invites interpretation, and different readers have landed on different conclusions over the years.
He's Showing Off His Own Cleverness
One reading is that the Pardoner is performing. Still, by admitting his fraud, he's demonstrating how self-aware he is — almost like a magician who reveals the trick and still expects you to be impressed. He's saying: "I'm too smart to actually believe this stuff. Aren't I clever?
This fits with his character. Plus, the Pardoner is vain. Plus, he has a high voice, he dresses effeminately, and he seems to crave attention. Admitting his hypocrisy could be another form of showing off — a way of being the most interesting person in the room.
It's a Defense Mechanism
There's a psychological reading too. If you admit your worst quality first, no one else can use it against you. The Pardoner essentially inoculates himself against criticism by confessing before anyone can accuse him.
It's the verbal equivalent of punching yourself in the face before someone else can do it. You're still hurt, but at least you chose it Not complicated — just consistent..
He's Testing the Other Pilgrims
Another possibility: the Pardoner is probing. By confessing, he's seeing how the other pilgrims will react. On top of that, will they reject him? Accept him? Give him money anyway? He's essentially conducting a social experiment Turns out it matters..
This reading makes the Pardoner seem almost clinical — a man who views other people as subjects in an ongoing test of human nature.
Chaucer Is Using Him to Critique the Church
Let's zoom out. Chaucer wrote this in the late 14th century, when the Catholic Church was under serious scrutiny for exactly the kind of corruption the Pardoner represents. The sale of indulgences, the trafficking in fake relics, the preaching for profit — these were real controversies Worth knowing..
By creating a character who openly admits to all of it, Chaucer may be doing something politically sharp. In practice, the Pardoner isn't just a character; he's evidence. He's a confession from the institution itself, delivered through a fictional proxy.
He Can't Stop
Finally, there's the darkest reading: the Pardoner admits his hypocrisy because he knows it's wrong, but he's trapped. Here's the thing — the money is too good. On top of that, the lifestyle is too comfortable. He knows he's damned, and telling everyone doesn't change anything — it just adds another layer to his despair Worth keeping that in mind. Practical, not theoretical..
This reading makes the Pardoner almost tragic. He's a man who sees himself clearly and still can't save himself.
The Irony of His Tale
Here's what makes it even more complicated: the tale the Pardoner tells is actually a good one, and it's deeply moral The details matter here..
The Pardoner's Tale is about three young men who go seeking Death and instead find a pile of gold. Greed takes over, they kill each other, and the moral is clear: the love of money is the root of all evil. It's a solid medieval sermon But it adds up..
So here's the paradox: the most morally corrupt character in The Canterbury Tales tells the most morally sound story That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Chaucer seems to be saying something about art and character. The Pardoner may be a fraud in life, but his art — his story — has genuine power. That tension is part of what makes the character so enduring.
Common Misconceptions About the Pardoner
A few things readers often get wrong:
That he's simply evil. The Pardoner isn't a villain in a story. He's a complex person with genuine self-knowledge. That makes him more unsettling than a straightforward villain would be.
That his confession is sincere. It's not exactly a confession — it's more like a performance. He's telling the truth, but he's also enjoying telling it.
That the other pilgrims are shocked. Actually, they seem to take it in stride. The Host makes a crude joke, and the group moves on. That's part of the point: everyone knows the system is corrupt. The Pardoner is just more honest about it than most It's one of those things that adds up..
What This Tells Us About Chaucer
What strikes me most about the Pardoner is that Chaucer created him at all. In a simpler work, the hypocritical preacher would be a one-dimensional villain — exposed, punished, moral order restored Not complicated — just consistent. Less friction, more output..
But Chaucer does something more interesting. Which means he lets the Pardoner speak for himself. On the flip side, he gives him a voice, a self-awareness, and even a kind of dignity. The Pardoner is flawed, but he's not a caricature And that's really what it comes down to..
That's sophisticated writing. Chaucer understood that the most interesting characters are the ones who know themselves — even when that self-knowledge doesn't save them.
FAQ
Is the Pardoner based on a real person?
Probably not directly. Chaucer may have encountered corrupt pardoners in his own life — the practice was widespread and controversial in his time — but the character is his own creation Small thing, real impact..
Why does the Host ask the Pardoner for a relic at the end?
It's a joke. The Host, who earlier said he'd kiss the Pardoner's relics, now asks for one — knowing they're fake. It's another example of the pilgrims accepting the Pardoner despite (or because of) his confession.
Does the Pardoner actually believe in anything?
It's unclear. He seems to believe in money and in his own cleverness. Whether he believes in God, salvation, or his own damnation is left ambiguous — which is part of what makes him so compelling Worth knowing..
What's the point of the Pardoner's Tale if he's a fraud?
That's the irony Chaucer is playing with. The tale is genuinely moral, even though the teller is corrupt. It suggests that truth can come from unexpected places — or that art and character don't have to align.
The Last Word
The Pardoner admits his hypocrisy because the truth is more useful to him than the lie. Whether that's a form of honesty, a clever manipulation, or a cry for help — Chaucer leaves that for us to decide.
What we know is this: centuries later, we're still talking about him. That might be the real answer to why the Pardoner admits what he is. Sometimes the most honest thing a person can do is show you exactly who they don't want to be — and then keep being it anyway.
That's not a lesson about medieval church corruption. Because of that, that's a lesson about human nature. And Chaucer knew it Small thing, real impact..
