Question

What can be inferred from these lines describing the pardoner in Chaucer's prologue to The Canterbury Tales? He had a fine veronica sewed to cap. His wallet lay before him in his lap, Stuffed full of pardons brought from Rome all hot. A. He had a scholarly look. B. He was an unethical man. C. He was an honest person. D. He pretended not to care for riches. E. He cared about people's well-being.

Answer 1

B. He was an unethical man.

The lines from The Canterbury Tales about the pardoner describes how he seems to have lots of money, enough to buy a hat with nice material with a nice fat wallet of pardons. This suggests that the pardoner is corrupt because in the time period Chaucer is writing, one could sell "pardons." You can conclude that the pardoner makes his money from selling holy forgiveness in the form of "pardons."