"The Pardoners Tale", was one of the Canterbury Tales, written By Geoffrey Chaucer. In the tale, three men go looking for death, while doing so they find their own death brought by greed. Sometimes people will do anything for money by taking advantage of the guilt, fear, or ignorance of others.
A strong example of someone who will do absolutely anything for money would be the Pardoner himself. He is looked up to by the people as a holly man, but he is a total hypocrite. He states in the Pardoners prologue: "And thus I preach against the very vice I make my living out of Avarice and yet however guilty of that sin myself with other I have power to win them from it, I can bring them to repent." this shows that the Pardoner is very aware of his own greed and that he knows the power he has over the people. Giving him money without questioning his motives is just stupidity. Another statement that he makes in his prologue is: "For though I am a wholly vicious man, don't think I cant tell moral tales, I can!" By doing this he is taking advantage of the people by making it seem that he is a holy person but he is not. Obligation is what the people feel that ensure their way to heaven. All this shows that he would say and do anything to get his money.
"The Pardoners Tale" was also an illustration of greed. The three main characters in the tale go seeking death to kill him, but find a pile of gold coins. These coins and the character's greed lead to their own destruction. Two of the men plan to kill the youngest man who goes to town to get food and supplies, as the following quote shows: "When he comes back, get up in fun to have a wrestle; then, as you attack, I"ll up and put my dagger through his back." Greed can make people do anything to their advantage. It seems that the money was more important then there friend. While the youngest character went to go get food and supplies he also had a plan to buy some poison.
