The message about sin that emerges from the Pardoner's Prologue and Tale is how interconnected it is—sin leads only to more sin. The Pardoner's gluttony and lechery, for example, lead to his greed because of the need to finance his luxurious lifestyle.
The same for the rioters, who plan to use their new wealth to finance their gambling, drinking, and whoring. The devil finds an easy foothold in the youngest rioter's soul, even convincing him to murder his friends, because of the sinful lifestyle the Rioter already practiced.
Sin is the nick in your moral armor that enables the devil to jump in; it weakens you spiritually. Also, sin is treachery against God, when you should be grateful to him for his salvation. The Pardoner drives home this last point at the very end of his Tale in order to inspire repentance and shame in his audience, so they'll buy his pardons.
Questions About Sin
- Which sin does the Pardoner choose to emphasize in his preaching? Why?
- How do you imagine that worshiping relics might inspire a person to turn away from sinful behavior?
- How does purchasing a pardon save you from punishment for your sins? Even if the Pope issues it, can you get secondhand salvation?
- Bonus points: match the Pardoner's sins to Dante's Circles of Hell.
Chew on This
The Pardoner describes sin as everywhere. You can't avoid it; all you can do is get a pardon for it, preferably from him.
The Pardoner's extensive personal experience with the sins he preaches about make him a better preacher.