The Sinner Against the Scoundrels: The Ills of Doctrine and 'Shrift' in the Wife of Bath's, Friar's and Summoner's Narratives

Author / Editor
Kamowski, William.

Title
The Sinner Against the Scoundrels: The Ills of Doctrine and 'Shrift' in the Wife of Bath's, Friar's and Summoner's Narratives

Published
Religion and Literature 25 (1993): 1-18.

Description
Argues that fragment III of CT is a coherent, extended critique of corruption of the sacrament of penance. WBT provides a "model for how penance should be practiced," while FrT and SumT reflect abuse of the sacrament through economic and bureaucratic distortion.

Chaucer Subjects
Wife of Bath and Her Tale.
Friar and His Tale.
Summoner and His Tale.