Chaucer utilizes parody in his portrayal of the Pardoner to censure the Church. The Pardoner's sermon against avarice cleverly diverges from his overstated covetousness. Chaucer makes such an unnecessarily ravenous character to attract consideration regarding genuine debasement in the Church and to realize change.
Chaucer uses satire in his characterization of the Pardoner to criticize the Church. The Pardoner’s sermon against greed humorously contrasts with his exaggerated greediness. Chaucer creates such an excessively greedy character to draw attention to real corruption in the Church and to bring about change.
