Fallible Authors: Chaucer's Pardoner and Wife of Bath

Description: Studies the Pardoner's and Wife of Bath's "deviancy" in light of late medieval theological and academic discourses, particularly the commentaries and summas of the scholastics, Lollard treatises ,and reactions to Lollard writings and trials. Neither character embodies Lollardy or Wycliffite heterodoxy, but each is radically unorthodox. The authority of the Pardoner is "fallible" because of his shocking abuses of sacerdotal privileges; the Wife's failings are linked to her usurpation of the rhetoric of clerical authority.; Topics include qualifications for preaching; administration and validity of the sacraments of baptism, penance ,the Eucharist,ordination, and marriage; indulgences; the role of intention; female clergy; the Pardoner's sexuality; the Wife's obscenity; and the loathly lady's discussion of gentility in relation to dominion. Though heterodox, the characters tell moral tales. Also comments on SNT, ClT, and Mel.

Chaucer Subjects: Pardoner and His Tale; Wife of Bath and Her tale; Second Nun and Her Tale; Clerk and His Tale; Tale of Melibee