The Pardoner's Tale: Discuss the significance of the part played by the Old Man - page 1
Keywords: Geoffrey Chaucer The Pardoner's Tale The Canterburry Tales Old Man Analysis Fate Death Mercy Justice Cipher Narrative Attitude
By roshooo on 10/06/2010
Level: A Level (Year 13)
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The use of the Old Man’s character in ‘The Pardoner’s Tale’ has been questioned as its significance is difficult to determine. The Old Man could be viewed at his most basic level, that of an unfortunate character who stumbles across three men and leads them to their ill fate but a number of differing interpretations have been put forward. These interpretations can be explored in four categories: the Old Man in hi simplicity as just an old man, a character used to contrast the rioters’ attitudes, a subhuman or cipher character who is accused of differing personifications and finally, a symbol of choice.
Although more complex interpretations of the Old Man have been produced, many would retain that his character plays the basic role of a man who moves the story along. He is portrayed as an individual who is intent on avoiding the three drunken rioters, a pitiful old creature who is made all the more pitiful by his speech which highlights his desire to regain his youth or otherwise perish, “I ne kan nat fynde a man… that wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age”. A sympathetic character who could easily be viewed without ulterior motive, his appearance paints a picture of a universally saddening image, one of aged humanity with a “ful pale and welked” face who naturally laments for his lost youth. However, this meaningless and superficial idea of the Old Man is considered naïve by some.
Despite the Old Man’s clear function of moving ‘The Pardoner’s Tale’ along, an unimaginative character would hardly carry much significance. Rather, the significance of the part played by the Old Man could be recognised in his role in contrasting so greatly with the three rioters. The main contrasts are obvious: that of youth and age, attitudes towards death and religion, and also manners. Where the Old Man is wise and witty in his old age, the younger rioters are obnoxious and dim. Chaucer uses perfectly fitting and absurd questions to demonstrate this, such as the rioters’ question, “why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?” to which he has the Old Man respond politely with a poetic description of his search for youth and pleads with his “mooder” to bury him. This poetic speech both emphasizes his yearning and demonstrates his part in a birth and recreation cycle unlike the rioers’ blunt phrases and speeches. Similarly to their disregard for
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