In the Pardoner’s Tale, a story is told of three rioters who sharing their thoughts to the listening peoples whether they care to or not. The pardoner spins the tale of these three as they are in their unrestrained revelry boasting of their bravery to face Death if he comes a calling. They go to seek out Death and meet an elderly gentleman on the way and make rude comments to him like his age is so that shouldn’t he be almost dead, but the gentleman lets them know that on God will decide his time to die. He does share that he just left Death under a tree in the grove and that they could seek Death there. The three meet with Death in some very different situations.
As our three go forth to seek Death, they find a great fortune under the tree where Death should be staying. This is more golden florins than these three have ever seen. Eight bushels of gold and they want to make sure no one gets their find. They no longer seek Death. They have greed. The three make a plan to send the youngest rioter back to get supply to carry the gold back so that they can be rich. They will split the bounty three ways. But on the departure of the younger rioter, the other two plot to kill him and keep the bounty and split it in half. They plan the murder and as the young rioter returns, he is killed by the two men.
In irony, earlier as the young rioter as he is going to town feels the greed in him that he could get rid of the fellows and have the gold to himself. He visits the apothecary to say that he needs a poison to help him get rid of these rats and a polecat too so he would need it strong. He then takes the poison and puts it in wine bottles to take back to the two rioters waiting with the gold. He would present the bottles of wine to celebrate their good fortune and thus the two would die of the poison. But upon his return, he is attacked by the two others and killed, but in their revelry and celebration drink of the wine of the young rioter killing each of them. Death has visited them all.
The Pardoner’s Tale is one of death on many aspects. One of famine, sickness, cruelty and then of actions of greed that death comes to many people in many ways. Those who live to be old and those who live reckless and greedy may meet Death in a much earlier date. These three lived loud and did not really care but for themselves and then just their own personal self. The irony may be that they had it all with the three of them but as they saw the gold they became more self-centered and then they could have all been rich, but being selfish they all met who they were seeking, Death.
