Topic > Values ​​in the works of Chaucer and Malory

Values ​​are defined as things you think are important in how you live and work. However, the values ​​of those in the Middle Ages differ from today's values. Values ​​such as religion, loyalty, forgiveness, and humility were present during this time period. Literatures such as The Pardoner's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale and Morte D'Arthur, highlight the importance of these values ​​in the lives of citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In The Pardoner's Tale, author Geoffrey Chaucer uses satire to criticize the value of religion in the Middle Ages and how comfortable many of them were with death and the afterlife. During the Middle Ages, individuals did not question the authority of the church or its workers. Chaucer satirizes the pardoner in a comical way by describing how emasculating his appearance was by comparing him to a gelded male horse. Chaucer also explains how naively people believed the pardoner even though he was using false relics. The lyrics state, “You'll make me kiss your old pants too / And you'll swear they were a saint's relic” (Chaucer 292-293). The guest is shocked by the Pardoner's lies and calls attention that his relics are fake thus making what he says believable. The people of the time were very gullible, believing that the pardoner would free them from their sins. Thus allowing them to go to heaven. However the pardoner is not what he is expected to be, he is rather corrupt. Being a representation of the church, this shows the church's desire for money to improve their community. However, most of them were retained by the Pardoner. Religion was an important part of medieval society. Geoffrey Chaucer uses satire in The Wife of Bath, to show the importance of the medieval value of religion and forgiveness. The church emphasized the importance of chastity. Although very religious, Chaucer's character, Wife of Bath, would disagree with many of the church's ideas regarding sexual actions for wealth during the time period. The Wife of Bath is a very curvy but outspoken woman compared to most of the time who was considered the property of their husbands. This is essential because she was known as a model for the “feminist movement” during the Middle Ages. However, the feminist movement of this period was different from that of the 1800s. During this wave, women fought for equality. However, during the Middle Ages, feminism was known as having control over one's husband in a relationship. The text states: And-Jesus hears my prayer!-cuts short the lives/of those who do not want to be governed by their wives” (Chaucer 437-438). These lines present to the other pilgrims the moral of the Wife of Bath's tale regarding the perspective of women of the time. Forgiveness is shown through the story of a rather lusty knight who commits a crime that should have resulted in death. The text states: "But that queen, and other ladies too, / begged the king to exercise his grace / So ceaselessly, he gave the queen chance / And granted her his life, and she could choose / Whether to show him mercy or refuse ,”(70-74). The queen and other women exercised grace and forgiveness by sending him on a quest for what women desire most and postponing his death rather than killing him right away. Forgiveness is shown through this, and this helps society grow. In Morte D'Arthur values ​​such as loyalty and humility are present throughout this literature. The tale explains how King Arthur rose to power and the origins of some of his knights. When he draws his sword for the first time.