Symbols/Motifs
By Hannah
Oak Tree – cosmic storehouse of wisdom, honored for endurance and noble presence, durability, purity, consistency, life affirming, king of the forest, generous with gifts
Old Man – wisdom, experience, at times forgiveness, may mean unyielding ways and rigid thinking, possibly death or something that cannot die (sin, humanity, materialism), old people and how they should be treated
3 – mystical, spiritual, common in folktales, usually symbolizes reward and success, promising new adventures, assurance of cooperation from others, magic, intuition, fecundity, advantage, time (past, present, and future), represents directional path in relation to past events and future goals
8 – business, success, wealth, continuation, repetition, cycles, rolling and growing momentum
Gold – power, strength, greed, success, achievement, perfection, ergo (transition of the soul)
Cake – importance, indulgence, power, gluttony
Drink (alcohol) – corruption, bad motivator, gluttony, wine or blood of Christ
Money – power, materialism, possible corruption, greed
Bell – importance, Christianity, ceremonial, musical (enjoyable)
Papal Seal – authority, authenticity
Latin – learning, authority, authenticity, Church
Glass Jars – transparency, proud, not hiding despite fraud
Stile – a barrier meant to restrain animals but allow humans to cross
All of the symbols work in tandem to create meaning by reinforcing the lessons of the story. Cake, drink, gold, and money all help to show the greed and gluttony the Pardoner so embodies and preaches against. The bell, papal seal, and Latin are all religious symbols of what the Pardoner should be, and is abusing. The glass jar the ‘relics’ are stored in shows how the Pardoner is not afraid of or trying to hide his fraud. The stile the three rakes stop in front of shows how greed and gluttony makes people more animal than human, and therefore unable to cross. Their treatment of the old man is also symbolic of how far they have fallen. In addition, the numbers three and eight, as well as the old man and oak tree, are all common elements to old tales and help to tie the story together.
Old Man – wisdom, experience, at times forgiveness, may mean unyielding ways and rigid thinking, possibly death or something that cannot die (sin, humanity, materialism), old people and how they should be treated
3 – mystical, spiritual, common in folktales, usually symbolizes reward and success, promising new adventures, assurance of cooperation from others, magic, intuition, fecundity, advantage, time (past, present, and future), represents directional path in relation to past events and future goals
8 – business, success, wealth, continuation, repetition, cycles, rolling and growing momentum
Gold – power, strength, greed, success, achievement, perfection, ergo (transition of the soul)
Cake – importance, indulgence, power, gluttony
Drink (alcohol) – corruption, bad motivator, gluttony, wine or blood of Christ
Money – power, materialism, possible corruption, greed
Bell – importance, Christianity, ceremonial, musical (enjoyable)
Papal Seal – authority, authenticity
Latin – learning, authority, authenticity, Church
Glass Jars – transparency, proud, not hiding despite fraud
Stile – a barrier meant to restrain animals but allow humans to cross
All of the symbols work in tandem to create meaning by reinforcing the lessons of the story. Cake, drink, gold, and money all help to show the greed and gluttony the Pardoner so embodies and preaches against. The bell, papal seal, and Latin are all religious symbols of what the Pardoner should be, and is abusing. The glass jar the ‘relics’ are stored in shows how the Pardoner is not afraid of or trying to hide his fraud. The stile the three rakes stop in front of shows how greed and gluttony makes people more animal than human, and therefore unable to cross. Their treatment of the old man is also symbolic of how far they have fallen. In addition, the numbers three and eight, as well as the old man and oak tree, are all common elements to old tales and help to tie the story together.