The pilgrim Chaucer and the poet Chaucer are not the same person but are both literate- setting them both in a small portion of medieval society. Therefore it may be possible that the pilgrim has a similar social standing, job, and education to the author. Authors in medieval society could not make enough money selling books to support themselves- there had to be someuseful? function for their skill. It is known that Chaucer's (the author) occupation was a government functionary*. Logically we can assume the pilgrim to be a government official also. In government, there were two main positions for the literate: a legal writer or an entertainer. The poetry that Chaucer uses to tell the story suggests that it is the latter. However government jobs are not the only professions for the literate. The Church taught its clergy to read and write, and motivated them to teach others. .
Utilizing voice to build the speaker's character, Chaucer reveals positive bias as he depicts his accompanying party. Describing the Millere,Wel coude he stelen corn, and tollen thryes,/ And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. (Line 562-563)? The miller steals corn yet is praised for being able to grind it to make three times profit and not have anyone notice the missing corn. He then reverts back to scorning the miller but with a gentle proverb that implies that there are no honest millers. Similar to the Millere, the Pardoner's image remains positive. .
?Upon a day he gat him more moneye.
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye.
And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,.
He made the person and the peple his apes.? (Lines 703-706) .
Pardoners sold papal indulgences to raise money to support the construction of religious houses1, but most were fraudulent as was this one. Yet Chaucer makes no disdaining remarks about this pardoner, only makes a simple acknowledgment about a single great day in which the pardoner generates two months pay.
