With regard to the Pardoner in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, in what ways is the Pardoner's occupation appropriate to his character?Why did...

In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury
Tales, the author paints a less-than-flattering picture of the
Pardoner.

I believe that Chaucer portrays the man as a
servant of the Church because the Church was very much like a business. Chaucer was not
happy with the concept that people should have to pay for forgiveness, which is exactly
what the Pardoner is: forgiveness for a price.  Chaucer saw characters like the Pardoner
and the Friar as men who used the Church to advance their own lives and successes at the
expense of the poor and down-trodden. Instead of lifting these people up as the Church
taught them, they took advantage. In fact, the only clergyman that Chaucer admires is
the Parson, who lives what the Church preaches, and gives all that
he has to guarantee not only the spiritual well-being of his parishioners, but also
their physical comforts.

For those, like the Pardoner, who
wish not only survive but to thrive, "serving" the Church was a perfect place. The
Pardoner lived in his parish where he did not have someone supervising him directly to
keep him honest and in line. If he collected more than he should or sold stolen pardons,
the Church would not know if he sent money along to support the main Church. This
position provided him with flexibility and autonomy, which provided more financial
success.

Ironically, the Pardoner also thrives because he
is like a wolf in a pasture of sheep: he is intelligent and knowledgeable about what he
can do and get away with; he is also aware of what will bring him a greater return "on
his investment." If he sings really well during his service, he will collect more money
in the collection plate. Who could keep track of the many unChristian-like activities
which bring him such rich financial gain? Add in the fact that he cares nothing for
those he serves or what happens to them after he rips them off, the Pardoner could
easily be a government official or a lawyer, but the Church was the biggest business
around at the time. It crossed lines off religion, politics and society. It was the one
constant in the lives of those living during the Middle Ages: it was in the Church that
lives could be changed—or, in the case of men like the Pardoner, money could be
made.